In September 1953, shortly after India’s independence, an extraordinary and heartwarming event unfolded on the cricket grounds of New Delhi. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Vice President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, two towering figures of the young republic, set aside their political roles to captain opposing teams in a rare exhibition cricket match. The purpose was noble and urgent: to raise funds for victims of devastating floods that had ravaged parts of the country.
The two-day charity match pitted Nehru’s Parliamentarians’ XI against Radhakrishnan’s Vice President’s XI. Played in a spirit of camaraderie and bipartisanship, it drew a large and enthusiastic crowd eager to witness their leaders in an unfamiliar yet endearing role. Nehru, then approaching his 64th birthday and admitting he had not played cricket in nearly 40 years, won the toss and elected to bat first.
Archival footage recently resurfaced—shared by Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and credited to cricket historian and archivist Jai Galgali—captures the charm of the occasion. Nehru is seen padding up, taking to the crease in the second innings alongside Communist leader A.K. Gopalan, and scoring a modest 1 run before being run out. The visuals also show him energetically fielding, even chasing the ball to the boundary to prevent a four, demonstrating his characteristic zeal even on the pitch.
The Vice President’s XI declared their first innings at 231 for 6. Nehru’s team responded strongly, eventually declaring their second innings at 160 for 3. True to its exhibition nature, the match concluded in a draw, with no winner declared—fitting for an event rooted in unity rather than competition.
Beyond the play, the focus remained firmly on the cause. During intervals and breaks, both Nehru and Radhakrishnan addressed the spectators, appealing for generous donations to aid the flood-affected. At the conclusion, Nehru took on the additional role of auctioneer, selling items such as cricket bats and the match scorebook to boost the collection. Through these efforts and public contributions, the match raised nearly ₹1 lakh—a substantial sum in 1953—for flood relief, often directed toward initiatives like the Nehru Relief Fund.
This unique event stands as a poignant reminder of the early post-independence era, when political leaders across ideologies came together for social good. Cricket, already a beloved national pastime, served as a powerful platform to mobilize support during crises. Parliamentarians have continued this tradition over the decades, organizing exhibition matches for various charitable causes and occasionally displaying surprising skill on the field.
The 1953 match between Nehru and Radhakrishnan remains a delightful footnote in India’s history—one that blends sport, politics, and compassion in a way that captures the optimism and unity of those formative years.
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