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Vinoo Mankad Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 17, 2026 • 4 min read

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Quick Info

Date of birth12 April 1917

Age61 Years (at the time of death)

BirthplaceJamnagar (present-day Gujarat)

ProfessionFormer Indian Cricketer (all-rounder)

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilyThree sons (Ashok Mankad, Atul Mankad, Rahul Mankad)

Vinoo Mankad Biography

Mulvantrai Himmatlal "Vinoo" Mankad was an Indian Test cricketer and pioneering all-rounder who played for India from 1946 to 1959. A left-arm slow-orthod

Early life and background

Mulvantrai Himmatlal Mankad, better known as Vinoo Mankad, was born on 12 April 1917 in Jamnagar in the princely state of Nawanagar (present-day Gujarat). He attended Nawanagar High School and completed his formal education up to matriculation. From his school days he showed an early aptitude for cricket, producing standout performances in school competitions that helped launch his long playing career.

Mankad’s cricket education included mentoring from experienced professionals. Albert Wensley, a Sussex professional, worked with him on his bowling, encouraging a shift in style that refined his approach on turf wickets. He was also guided on batting by KS Duleepsinhji. The patronage of the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar was influential in his early development and opportunities.

Career

Vinoo Mankad made his Test debut for India on 22 June 1946 at Lord’s during the tour of England. He established himself quickly as a genuine all-round player: a right-handed batter who could occupy the crease and a left-arm slow orthodox bowler who varied pace and flight to trouble batsmen. He remained an international player until his final Test, played on 6 February 1959 against the West Indies in New Delhi.

Domestically, Mankad represented a wide range of teams across the Indian first-class circuit, reflecting both his professional commitments and the mobility typical of players of his era. His domestic sides included Western India, Nawanagar, Hindus, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bengal, Saurashtra, Bombay, and Rajasthan. He also spent time in league cricket in England, where his performances included taking more than 50 wickets in a single Bolton Cricket League season.

On the field Mankad was noted for versatility and endurance. He opened both batting and bowling in a Test match on at least one occasion, and he batted in every position during his career. He and Pankaj Roy put together one of the highest opening partnerships in Test cricket in January 1956. Mankad was the first Indian to complete the double of 1,000 Test runs and 100 Test wickets, and he reached that Test double rapidly, becoming one of the quickest players to do so.

Mankad’s individual achievements included milestone firsts for Indian cricket. He was the first Indian to score a century against Australia (in 1948) and the first Indian to record both a century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test match. He produced two double centuries in a single Test series against New Zealand and held other notable distinctions such as being one of very few non-English players to appear on both the batting and bowling honours boards at Lord’s.

His bowling also registered unusual statistics: he is among those with multiple hit-wicket dismissals and was the bowler victimized most famously by a stumping of Don Bradman in first-class cricket. Mankad was named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1947 and later received honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1967. The Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan in 1973.

Public profile

Mankad’s name became synonymous with a particular form of run-out of the non-striker when he ran out Australian Billy Brown in 1946 by removing the bails when the non-striker was outside the crease. This mode of dismissal entered cricket parlance as a term derived from his name.

Contemporaries and commentators praised his work ethic, professionalism and single-minded focus on cricket. He was widely regarded in his time as India’s leading all-rounder and a professional who travelled and played wherever he was appreciated. That reputation was built on dedication to training, adaptability across batting positions and consistency with the ball.

Personal life

Mankad married in 1945. He was the father of three sons, all of whom played first-class cricket; his sons included Ashok Mankad, Atul Mankad and Rahul Mankad. His family includes several sportspeople across generations, with grandchildren active in tennis and academia. He lived for a time on Marine Drive in Bombay (now Mumbai).

Latest updates

Vinoo Mankad died on 21 August 1978 in Bombay at the age of 61. His cricketing legacy remains as a pioneering Indian all-rounder, a trailblazer in professional cricket for his country and a name that endures in cricketing terminology and record lists.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Vinoo Mankad, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded

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Recent Work

India Test debut at Lord's

Made his Test debut for India on 22 June 1946 against England at Lord's.

1946
Final Test appearance

Played his last Test match for India on 6 February 1959 against the West Indies at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi.

1959
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Career Highlights

  1. First Indian to score 1000 Test runs and take 100 Test wickets.
  2. Named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Year in 1947.
  3. Padma Bhushan recipient in 1973.
  4. One of only three non-English players on both batting and bowling honours boards at Lord’s.
  5. Recorded two double centuries in a single Test series against New Zealand.
Reviewed by F4U Editorial Desk

F4U profile pages are prepared from public career information, checked for readability, and updated when reliable correction sources are shared with the editorial team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Vinoo Mankad born?

Vinoo Mankad was born on 12 April 1917.

What is Vinoo Mankad known for?

Vinoo Mankad is known for former Indian Cricketer (all-rounder).

What is Vinoo Mankad’s marital status?

Vinoo Mankad's marital status is listed as Married.