Sangramsinh Pratapsinh Gaekwad (born 6 August 1941) is an Indian former first-class cricketer and cricket coach. He is a member of the Gaekwad dynasty of Baroda and currently first in the line of succession to the unofficial title[note 1] of Maharaja of Baroda.

Sangramsinh Gaekwad
Personal information
Full name
Sangramsinh Pratapsinh Gaekwad
Born (1941-08-06) 6 August 1941 (age 83)
Baroda, Gujarat, India
BattingRight-handed
RelationsSee Gaekwad dynasty
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1960/61–1975/76Baroda
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 77
Runs scored 3,534
Batting average 27.60
100s/50s 3/16
Top score 138
Balls bowled 130
Wickets 3
Bowling average 35.66
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/4
Catches/stumpings 27/–
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 8 September 2019

Early life and family

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Sangramsinh was born on 6 August 1941 as the eighth child of Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad, the last ruling Maharaja of Baroda, and his first wife Shantadevi. He has two brothers, Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad and Ranjitsinh Gaekwad, and five sisters.[1]

Sangramsinh's brothers, Fatehsinghrao and Ranjitsinh, became unofficial Maharajas of Baroda after their father's death. After Ranjitsinh's death in 2012, Ranjitsinh's only son, Samarjitsinh Gaekwad, ascended to the throne.[2] In 2013, Samarjitsinh and Sangramsinh settled a 23-year-long legal inheritance dispute worth more than 20,000 crore (equivalent to 340 billion or US$4.1 billion in 2023) (~ US$3 billion in 2013).

As part of the settlement, Sangramsinh received ownership of Nazarbaug Palace, Indumati Palace, Makarpura Palace, two bungalows in Vadodara, real estate properties in Mumbai, 55 acres (22 ha) of land in the vicinity of Laxmi Vilas Palace, and 100 acres (40 ha) of agricultural land. He also secured control of Alaukik Trading Company and Baroda Rayon facility in Surat, and retained possession of Gaekwad Investment Corporation.[3][4][5][6]

Personal life

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Sangramsinh is married to Asharaje Gaekwad who is from a Nepalese noble family; the couple lives in Mumbai[7] and has two children. Their son Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad is the CEO of Baroda Rayon while daughter Priyadarshini Raje is married to politician Jyotiraditya Scindia of the Scindia family.[8]

Cricket career

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Sangramsinh played first-class cricket for Baroda in the Ranji Trophy from 1960/61 to 1975/76. He appeared in 77 first-class matches as a top-order batsman, scoring 3,534 runs at an average of 27.60. He also played for West Zone in the Duleep Trophy and Board President's XI against visiting international teams.[9]

Sangramsinh became a cricket coach after his playing career. In 2015, he started a cricket academy in Vadodara called "Prince Sangramsinh Gaekwad Cricket Academy". The academy, spread over 10 acres near the Akota-Dandia Bazaar Bridge, began operations with former Baroda cricketer Narayan Satham as its head coach.[10]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ The Government of India abolished all official titles, privileges and remuneration of princely states in 1971 through the 26th amendment to the Constitution of India

References

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  1. ^ "Maharaja Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad". History of Vadodara. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Samarjitsinh crowned new Gaekwad of Vadodara". India Today. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  3. ^ Mallik, Pradeep (27 October 2013). "THE ROYAL TRUCE". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  4. ^ Jolly, Asit (11 November 2013). "The Royal Bounty". India Today. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  5. ^ Nelson, Dean (24 October 2013). "Baroda Maharaja settles £3 billion inheritance feud". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Members of ex-Indian royal family end dispute over palaces, diamonds". The Straits Times. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  7. ^ Mahurkar, Uday (29 August 2005). "Gaekwad inheritance: Legal battle for control of Vadodara royal family property gets messier". India Today. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  8. ^ Singh, Saumit (19 April 2006). "Mumbai's most eligible bachelor Pratap Gaekwad to wed in Nepal". DNA India. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Sangramsinh Gaekwad". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  10. ^ Tere, Tushar (16 March 2015). "The 'other' royal Gaekwad to train Baroda cricketers". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
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