Rajinder Singh Ghai, born on 12 June , 1960, in
Jalandhar of India, was a right-hand batsman, and right-arm medium-fast player.
Rajinder has played for
Punjab, in domestic cricket. He has also cast him, in six One-Day Internationals for India, ranging from 1984-86. His career in first-class cricket spanned from 1979/80- 1987-88.
During the mid-eighties, one-day matches became order of the day, being boosted up by the 1983 World Cup Championship of India. It became indispensable, for Team India, to augment the know-how in seam-bowling, in order to survive in one-day game-scenario.
The selectors embarked on a talent-hunt for seam-experts. Meanwhile, Rajinder Singh , a player of medium stature, was one of the choices, for the opening bowling in seam-style .
The virtue of Rajinder Singh lay in the fact that he was not only industrious, but skilled as well. He could very well, turn the ball, suiting his own purpose. He made his ODI debut, in the match of India Vs England, at Pune, on December 5, 1984. He fared well, considering it to be his debut. Rajinder Singh Ghai, bowled 9 overs, and gave 38 runs. His credit lay in the fact that he collected the wicket of RT Robinson of England, by rendering him lbw in the very first ODI.
However, he lagged behind in terms of pace, and sturdy physique, which prevented his progress up the desired heights.He joined the team`s expedition to Sri Lanka in 1985. However, he participated only in first-class matches. That year only he was included as a member of the Indian cricket squad, touring to Sharjah .
Rajinder Singh Ghai, took part in the Ranji Trophy game for Punjab. His Ranji career, continued for more than ten years. He functioned as one of the highest wicket-takers in the Ranji realms. Indeed, the number of wickets that he has pocketed in first-class cricket was 119, made at an average of 32.21. His career-best bowling in first-class was 7/110
An aggressive lower-order batsman, Rajinder Singh Ghai, could fetch his topmost score of 114, not out against Services, in 1986-87.
Rajinder Singh Ghai, though played for a brief time, attempted to consolidate the foundation of seam-bowling in Indian cricket.
