Nirode Chowdhury, also known as Nirode Ranjan Putu Chowdhury, was an Indian cricket player who mainly played as a medium pace bowler. Born on 23rd May 1923 in Jamshedpur, he had a brilliant start in his cricket career. In his first three matches he bagged 11, 9 and 10 wickets. He took a hat-trick in 1944-45 against Bengal Governor"s XI in Eden Gardens. This included the wickets of Lala Amarnath, Mushtaq Ali and Vinoo Mankad.
Nirode Chowdhury began his career in the arena of cricket with Bihar. Later he moved to Bengal and played most of the matches of his career. However towards the latter phase of his career he returned to Bihar. He marked his debut in Test in 1948-49 at Madras against West Indies. Although he grabbed only one wicket, he ran out Everton Weekes brilliantly who had scored hundreds in his five previous innings and in this innings had reached 90. Everton Weekes had started to run cutting Vinoo Mankad to gully but was sent back. Nirode Chowdhury threw the ball to the wicket keeper Probir Sen who ran Weekes out.
In the year 1951, Nirode Chowdhury spent some time in Alf Gover"s cricket school in England. Subsequently he was a part of a Test against England at home and in the following year, 1952, he toured England without playing in a Test. He was also allotted a benefit match, which for some reason could not be played. In the later years Chowdhury served in the Durgapur steel plant. His bowling average was 205.00. Nirode Chowdhury died on 14th December 1979 at Durgapur at the age of 56.
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