Cricket in India owes its robust foundation and unwavering popularity largely to the efforts of the rulers of princely states. Under their patronage, cricket prospered and emerged as a unifying force. The Maharajas would scout and hone talent, organize local tournaments and even sponsor the foreign tours. But there is another side to it. Their cricket, good or bad, was of little relevance. Instead, it was their financial strength and connections that paved the way for them to assert their supremacy, even on cricketing matters.
It was against this backdrop that animosity between Maharaja of Patiala and Vizianagaram peaked, especially after the formation of BCCI in 1928. Even though Patiala was richer and more skilled as a cricketer, 'Vizzy' was driven by his ambition of captaining India. He succeeded in drafting a star-studded side composed of Herbert Sutcliff and Jack Hobbs for a tour in 1931 - no easy feat by any means. In response, Patiala arranged for the training for England's tour of 1932 at Bardari Palace in Patiala and also offered to sponsor the tour.
Vizzy looked to strengthen his power dynamics. He had an amicable relationship with the then Viceroy Lord Willingdon and offered to donate a ‘golden’ Willingdon trophy to winners of India's National championship in 1934. Patiala blocked his attempts by donating the same trophy but in the honor of RanjitSinghji, one that continues to be played till date. But Vizzy was stern and his continuous interplay of politics and sport ultimately reaped benefits in 1936, when he was chosen the captain for England's tour.
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As soon as the team landed on English shores, Vizzy’s arrogance and abject understanding of the game wreaked havoc. He once bribed the opposition player to bowl him full tosses and weaker deliveries so that he could score runs. That he was a substandard player was no revelation. But his leadership drew sharp criticism even from his own teammates, who asked him to step down and make way for Nayudu to be appointed captain.
This left Vizzy infuriated. He made Baqa Jilani insult Nayudu at the breakfast table prior to the third test in reward of a test cap. His feud with Lala Amarnath had far-reaching consequences on Indian cricket. The confrontation began with field placements during a tour match but later escalated with Amarnath being demoted in the batting order and forced to bowl and field with a severe back pain. Vizzy would ask Amarnath to pad up and not send him to bat till the end of the day, which once prompted an incense reaction from Amarnath.
The team manager, Britten Jones consequently charged Amarnath for indiscipline. Notwithstanding the team's chances on the tour, Vizzy and Britten Jones conspired to have their best all-rounder sent back home midway through the tour. Another reason for this envy was Amarnath's closeness to Maharaja of Patiala, a long standing-rival of Vizzy. Despite his impressive performances, Amarnath was treated with utmost disdain and insensitivity. Vizzy used all his political strength to ensure Amarnath didn't return for the tour.
The skirmishes within the team kept growing but Vizzy wasn’t the one to bow down. And the next victim of his insanity was Vijay Merchant. During the second test, he instigated Syed Mushtaq Ali to run Vijay Merchant out and offered him a gold watch as a reward. Imagine the captain of a team doing this! Ali, however, talked to Merchant about Vizzy’s evil aspirations and both strung a mammoth 203-run partnership, denying Vizzy his share of off-the-field success.
To say Vizzy's ego-filled captaincy stint ruined the prospects of a talented team wouldn't be wrong. This can be attributed from the fact that India won the third and the only test of the tour in his absence, one which he had to miss to receive the knighthood. He did accomplish his dream of playing for and captaining India. But his disastrous campaign meant this was all he had to show for his international career.
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