Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh (1933–1987) was an Indian cricketer who represented the national side in Test matches during the 1950s and 1960s. A right-handed middle-order batsman and off-break bowler, he was associated with Madras (now Chennai) cricket for much of his domestic career and was part of a well-known cricketing family from the city.
| Key Facts | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Amritsar Govindsingh Kripal Singh |
| Born | 1933 |
| Died | 1987 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | All-rounder (right-hand batsman, off-break bowler) |
| Domestic team | Madras |
| Format | Test cricket, first-class cricket |
Kripal Singh belonged to a Sikh family settled in Madras that produced several first-class cricketers. His brothers, including A. G. Milkha Singh and A. G. Satvender Singh, also played first-class cricket, and the next generation of the family continued the association with the game in Tamil Nadu. The brothers were collectively a notable presence in South Indian cricket from the 1950s onward.
Kripal Singh made his Test debut for India against New Zealand in the 1955–56 home series. He marked the occasion with a half-century, becoming one of the relatively small group of Indian batsmen to score a fifty on Test debut at the time, and contributed with the ball as an off-spinner.
He went on to play a number of Test matches for India over the following years, appearing intermittently across home and overseas series. As an all-rounder he offered the side useful middle-order runs along with off-spin bowling, although he was not a regular fixture in the playing eleven throughout his career.
In domestic cricket he was a long-serving figure for Madras in the Ranji Trophy, where he was active as a batsman, bowler and, in later years, as a senior member of the side. He also turned out in zonal competitions such as the Duleep Trophy representing South Zone.
Kripal Singh is remembered both for his individual contributions to Indian cricket in the post-independence era and as a member of one of Indian cricket's notable family lineages. His debut fifty against New Zealand and his role in Madras cricket secure him a place in the chronological history of the game in India during a period when the national side was still establishing itself in international competition.