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Why was the Ranji Trophy named after Ranjitsinhji?
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Jonny Bairstow of England batting during a semifinal match against Australia at the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
The Ranji Trophy is named in honor of Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, a prince who was the first person of Indian origin to play Test cricket.12
Commonly known as "Ranji," he played 15 Test matches for England between 1896 and 1902. When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to organize a domestic tournament in 1934, the trophy was named after him to commemorate his pioneering role in the sport. The prize itself was donated by Bhupinder Singh, the maharaja of the princely state of Patiala.12