Ranjib Biswal

Ranjib Biswal is an Indian former cricketer who played domestic cricket for Odisha. He was born on September 21,1970 in Cuttack, Odisha. This multi-faceted personality having depth in both politics and sports had brought laurels for his state as the caption of the Odisha Ranji team and then scripted a new chapter in the state cricket history by successfully leading the India Under-19 cricket team to Pakistan.

Biswal was recently elected as a member of the governing council of the Indian Premiere League (IPL). Hailing from a political family, Ranjib in his initial career was an a rdent lover of sports. He began his career in cricket under his coach Kishore Mania. Starting his career as a wicket-keeper batsman, Ranjib went to become an off-spin bowler and a batsman. During his decade-long career starting from 1987-1997, Biswal has played 41 first class matches and scored 2170 runs including five centuries and 13 half centuries.

After his retirement, he has successfully led the Indian team as its manager during the West Indies tour in 2006, T20 World Cup tournament in West Indies, and the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka for which he has been highly praised. For his remarkable performance in cricket, Biswal bagged the prestigious Ekalavya Award in 1993. In 1992-93, he received the Maruti Estate Sahid Sporting Cricketer of the Year Award. Not only as a player, Biswal has earned name as an able sports administrator. Once working under Ashirbad Behera, Ranjib later worked independently and successfully. He achieved remarkable feat as the president of OCA in 2004. He was again re-elected as the OCA president on August 17, 2008. He is presently Chairman of National Cricket Academy (NCA)[4] and President of Odisha Cricket Association (OCA).

OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Led India under-19 cricket team against Pakistan in 4 Test matches played in India.

After retiring from domestic cricket in 1997, he became an administrator and was made member of the National selection committee (representing East Zone) in 2005, under Kiran More.

In 2006, when the committee was re-formed under Dilip Vengsarkar, Ranjib was retained for an additional term in 2006.

Acted as the manager of the India one-day team for West Indies tour in May 2006.

Re-elected as president of Orissa Cricket Association on August 17, 2008.

Earlier in 2004, Ranjib defeated Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Editor of the Oriya daily, `The Sambad, to become the OCA president for
the first time.

He is also the editor of Oriya daily `The Samay’ .

Acted as the manager of Indian team for 2010 ICC T20 World Cup in West Indies.

Under his managership Indian won the 2010 Asia Cup Tournament in Sri Lanka.

Under his managership Indian won the ICC World Cup in 2011.

Re-elected as president of OCA unopposed on August 25, 2012.

Appointed chairman of National Cricket Academy by BCCI on September 27, 2012.

Under his managership Team India won the Champions Trophy title, defeating England in the final by final at Birmingham on June 24, 2013.