Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh who was also known as A. G. Kripal Singh, was an Indian cricketer who played many successive national and international test matches in the post colonial period. He made his international test debut on November 19 to November 24 in the year 1955.
Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh was born on 6th August 1933 in Madras (Chennai). He was an Indian Test cricketer, who was the right hand batsman and right arm off break. He played with the major domestic teams of Hyderabad and Madras. Hailed from South Indian corner, A. G. Kripal Singh played a leading role in Ranji Trophy in the year 1954.
Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh came from a famous cricketing family. His father A.G. Ram Singh was unlucky not to play for India, brother Milkha Singh was a Test cricketer, another brother, two sons and nephew all played first class cricket. Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh was an attacking batsman and a useful off spin bowler.
A. G. Kripal Singh played a leading role in Tamil Nadu winning the Ranji Trophy in 1954 to 1955. He scored 636 runs and taking 13 wickets. In the semi-final against Bengal Cricket team hit 98 runs and 97 runs- the second innings runs came out of a total of 139 all-out in which no one else reached double figures. There he took 4 wickets for 18 runs in the second innings. In the final against Holkar Cricket Team, he scored 75 out of 91 and seven wickets in a narrow victory. Earlier in the season, A. G. Kripal Singh scored his career best score of 208 against Travancore-Cochin.
He was picked for the series against New Zealand in the following season. There he scored 100 runs on his debut. That was to remain his only Test hundred. He scored two other fifties, one a defiant 53 against West Indies in 1958 to 1959.
A. G. Kripal Singh toured England in 1959. He hit 178 against Lancashire Cricket team and played in one Test where he scored 41. A finger injury severely limited his appearances. Though he remained within the sight of the selectors, his Test appearances became thereafter.
In 1960"s he played three tests in 1961 to 1962 and two in 1963 to 1964. These are all against England. It was in the third Test of the former series that he took his first wicket in Test cricket.
A. G. Kripal Singh had bowled 588 balls in nine innings and ten Tests prior to this, and no bowler has taken as many balls for his first wicket.
After retiring from Indian cricket scenario, he became the national selector at the time of his death. A. G. Kripal Singh died from a cardiac arrest at the age of 53 on July 22, 1987.
