2016-10-27 Thu

‘Cricket’ developed in England around 16th Century and now it is the second most famous sport in the world. People in India love cricket in spite of half of the world being crazy about football!

We have brought one such amazing cricket personality to add to your knowledge. Vijay Merchant, born on 12th October 1911, was India’s one of the greatest batsman player of Pre-Independence.

Due to his flawless batting, many countrymen wanted him in their country and one of the English cricketer CB Cry commented, “Let us paint him white and take him with us to Australia as an opener”. So you can assume about his greatness through this words.

Merchant has an average of 71.64 which stands second only to the great Donald Bradman in the list of overall highest first-class averages.

He said “My Lords and Gentlemen, so often we hear that these exchanges of visits bring the people of two countries together. Don’t you believe that? They only bring a few cricketers together, because people of two countries are brought together in a spirit of understanding, give and take and brotherhood of a much higher plane.” This is so true in today’s context also.

He died on 27th October 1987 due to a heart attack.

In order to pay honour to this outstanding cricketer, India Post issued a commemorative stamp of INR 2 on 13/3/1996 which depicts Vijay in the batting pose.

But wait…
Did you notice the stamp aside?

Nah not yet?

Well…will tell you, the year of issue is mention as ‘1995’ on the stamp and the catalogue referred says in 1996. So what do you think about this?

To view with this stamp in detail click here To add little more... during 1980’s and 90’s, ‘Cricket with Vijay Merchant’ was broadcast on Indian Radio Programme hosted by Vijay Merchant on every Sunday which was the most listened show.

So this Sunday grab a bat and play for Vijay Merchant.

Till then Happy collecting!

Spread love and happiness!