Javagal Srinath is a former Indian cricketer and currently works as an ICC match referee. He is the only Indian fast bowler to take more than 300 wickets in One Day Internationals. He was part of the Indian team that shared the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy with Sri Lanka. He also played in the 2003 Cricket World Cup final, where India finished as runners-up.
Srinath was the second Indian pace bowler after Kapil Dev to take 200 Test wickets. He remains India’s second-highest ODI wicket-taker with 315 wickets. Only Anil Kumble is ahead of him. In four World Cups, he took 44 wickets and is the joint highest wicket-taker for India in World Cups along with Zaheer Khan. He retired after the 2003 World Cup.
A photograph of former India fast bowler Javagal Srinath traveling on the Bengaluru Metro has gone viral. The image shows him with a trolley bag, dressed casually in jeans and a light-blue shirt. He looks like any other commuter. Srinath works as an ICC match referee.
Many recalled other occasions when he was seen away from the spotlight. He represented India in 67 Tests and 229 ODIs. This is not the first time his everyday life has drawn attention. A previous photograph showed him waiting at Mysuru railway station with a bag on his back. That image also received appreciation.
Javagal Srinath: Personal Life and Domestic Cricket Career
Javagal Srinath was born in Mysore, Karnataka in August 1969. He attended Marimallappa High School and later earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree in instrumentation from Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering in Mysore. He married his first wife Jyothsna in 1999. They later divorced, and he married journalist Madhavi Patravali in 2008.
Srinath caught the eye of former Indian Test batsman Gundappa Viswanath during a club match. He made his first-class debut for Karnataka against Hyderabad in 1989-90. In that match, he took a hat-trick in the first innings and took wickets from successive balls in the second. He finished the season with 25 wickets in six matches and took another 20 the following season.
He took over 500 first-class wickets in his career. He played county cricket for Gloucestershire in 1995 and took 87 wickets that season, including 9 for 76 against Glamorgan. He also played for Leicestershire and Durham.
Javagal Srinath: International Cricket Career and Major Milestones
Srinath made his ODI debut at Sharjah in 1991. In his debut year, he played 11 ODIs and two Tests. He took 14 ODI wickets at an average of 30.00. He made his Test debut against Australia at Brisbane during the 1991-92 tour. He finished the tour with ten wickets. He also toured South Africa and took 12 wickets at 26.08. However, he often found himself on the sidelines in home Tests because Indian pitches favored spin.
After Kapil Dev retired in late 1994, Srinath played his first home Test against the West Indies. He took five wickets and scored 60 in the second innings to earn Player of the Match. He also scored two half-centuries during that series.
Srinath was one of India’s fastest bowlers. In the 1997-98 series against Australia, one of his deliveries was measured at 149.6 kmph. He was India’s only regular fast bowler for many years. His heavy workload is believed to have caused his injuries. He underwent shoulder surgery in 1997.
In 2000, he was given fewer overs in Tests. He was mainly used in ODIs and overseas Tests. He took nine wickets against Zimbabwe in Delhi and received his last Test Player of the Match award.
He was less active in 2001 due to the emergence of younger bowlers like Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar. His Test career ended in 2002. He wanted to retire from ODIs but agreed to continue until the 2003 World Cup at Sourav Ganguly’s request. He played in India’s tour of New Zealand before the World Cup, taking 18 wickets in seven matches. He retired after the 2003 World Cup.
FAQs
Q. How many ODI wickets did Srinath take?
A. Srinath took 315 wickets in 229 ODIs.
Q. How many World Cups did Srinath play?
A. Srinath played in four World Cups for India.
Q. When did Javagal Srinath retire?
A. Srinath retired from international cricket after the 2003 World Cup.
Q. What does Javagal Srinath do now?
A. Srinath currently works as an ICC match referee.
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