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C.K. Nayudu
सी.के. नायडू
The first captain of Indian cricket — the Colossus of the game
Years
1895 – 1967
Known as
Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu — the cricketer
Birthplace
Nagpur, Maharashtra
Field
Sporting Legends
“Play the game with all your heart — the cricket field is the field of the nation's honour.”
— C.K. Nayudu
The Story
Born in 1895 in Nagpur, Nayudu was a natural athlete who became the greatest cricketer of his generation. His batting was legendary — his powerful hitting, including the famous six sixes in an over in the 1920s, made him the most exciting player in the land, and his fame spread across the cricket world.
In 1932 he captained the Indian team in its first Test match, against England at Lord's — a historic moment that made him the first captain of Indian cricket. He continued to play into his fifties, and his records — including the first century in Indian first-class cricket — stood for decades.
He died in 1967, honoured as the father of Indian cricket. The C.K. Nayudu Trophy, the prize of Indian domestic cricket, bears his name, and his life remains the foundation on which the nation's cricket was built.
Core Ideas
The First Captain
He led India in its first Test in 1932.
The Colossus
The giant of the game for three decades.
The Six Sixes
His legendary hitting made him the nation's hero.
The First Century
His record century stood for decades.
The Father of Indian Cricket
The honour the nation gave its first great player.
Why it matters today
C.K. Nayudu is honoured as the father of Indian cricket — the Colossus who led the nation in its first Test and dominated the game for three decades. His name crowns the C.K. Nayudu Trophy, and his life remains the foundation on which the nation's great cricket tradition was built.