Paliath Ravi Achan (born 12 March 1928) is a former Indian cricketer who represented Travancore-Cochin and Kerala in domestic first-class cricket.[1] He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-pacer.[2]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1928-03-12) 12 March 1928 (age 94) Chendamangalam, Ernakulam, Kerala, India | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-handed fast-medium or leg-spin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | K Ram Mohan (son) P. Balachandran (nephew) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952–1957 | Travancore-Cochin cricket team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1957–1969 | Kerala | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 6 February 2021 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
He is the eldest male member of the Paliam royal family of Cochin. He did his B.Sc. at the Annamalai University in Chidambaram. Achan's Ranji Trophy debut came for Travancore-Cochin against Mysore in Thiruvananthapuram in 1952. It was Travancore-Cochin's second-ever Ranji match. He scored 43 in the match and was the team's highest scorer. When the Travancore-Cochin cricket team was renamed Kerala in 1957, after the formation of Kerala state, Achan played for Kerala.
Ravi retired from domestic cricket at the age of 41. His career-high score is 70 which came in his last game against Madras in 1969, while his best bowling figures (6-34) came in 1960 against Andhra Pradesh. He also played in Tripunithura's Pooja tournament, one of the world's oldest limited-overs tournaments.[3] Achan played 55 first-class matches for Travancore-Cochin and Kerala teams from 1952 to 1970. Primarily a leg-spinner, he took 125 wickets and scored 1107 runs. He was the first Kerala cricketer to complete the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets. He also captained Kerala in several games.[4] The best spin bowler award presented by the Kerala Cricket Association is named after him.