On This Day 19 July: Celebrating A World Cup Winner, Roger Binny On His Birthday.
By Ayush Sachan
Roger Michael Humphrey Binny was born on 19 July 1955, in Bengaluru. With interests in Javelin throwing that developed at a young, his schooling is from St. Joseph’s, Binny’s athleticism is exactly what paved the way for his shift and interest to cricket. He made his debut for India in 1979 for Test and later in 1980 for ODI, playing 27 Tests where he scored 830 runs and took a total of 47 wickets and 72 ODIs where he scored 629 runs from his bat and took a staggering 77 wickets.
The World Cup Story
How he marked his place in history
It was not only India but also Roger Binny who had etched his name in history as the highest wicket-taker in the 1983 World Cup, bagging a total of 18 wickets in eight games, propelling India to its first World Cup triumph. His performance alongside Madan Lal remains one of the key pillars of that cricketing fairy tale.
He was a remarkable player and his balling is what souled his ticket to the 1983 world cup playing eleven, this was his chance to show his talent to the world. The pressure was immense as he was also representing his country at the world stage, and this was the first time it was looking like Team India was playing its cards right.
Success Beyond 1983
Life after becoming the world champion
His success story doesn’t just end with 1983 world cup win, In the 1985 World Championship of Cricket in Australia, he again shone by claiming 17 wickets, leading India’s bowling charts.
As captain and coach of India U‑19, he guided the team to glory at the 2000 Under-19 World Cup, nurturing future stars like Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan.
Binnyhas also served the Karnataka State Cricket Association as President (2019–2022) before being unanimously elected 36th President of the BCCI in October 2022.
He also actively supports women’s cricket by heading the committee overseeing the Women’s Premier League since December 2023.
Thoughts
Roger Binny stands out not just as a player but as a mentor, administrator, and trailblazer. He’s among the few who translated match-winning on-field performances into impactful off-field leadership as well
So on this special day, we celebrate not just a birthday but a legacy, of an athlete, coach, and visionary who shaped Indian cricket its past, present, and future.