Born on 12 April 1917 at Jamanagar and died on 21 August 1978 at Bombay.

A top quality right handed batsman and orthodox left arm spinner, he made his test debut at Lord's against England in 1946.

He was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1947.

'Vinoo" Mankad played 44 tests, scoring 2109 runs at an average of 31.47, scoring five hundreds and six fifties and a highest score of 231. He also claimed 162 test wickets at an average of 32.32 with best bowling figures of 8-52. He claimed five wickets in an innings on eight occasions and 10 wickets in an innings twice.

In the test against England at Lord's in 1952, he scored 76 and 185 and returned figures of 73 overs 24 maidens 196 runs and 5 wickets in the first innings. He bowled 22 overs in the second innings but went wicketless. This match is known as 'Mankad's Match'. His 8 for 55 and 4 for 53 at Madras in 1952 paved the way for India's first test win against England. In Pakistan's first official test match, Mankad claimed 13 for 131 sending the novices to a crushing defeat. In 1956, against New Zealand, he established a record first wicket partnership with Pankaj Roy, putting on 413 runs, and he himself contributing 231.

Mankad will be counted amongst the finest all rounders of the world of all time. His son Ashok later played tests for India.