Commandur Rajagopalachari Rangachari, commonly known as C. R. Rangachari, was an Indian cricketer who represented India in Test cricket during the late 1940s. A right-arm fast-medium bowler from Madras (present-day Chennai), he was among the small group of pace bowlers from southern India to play Test cricket in the years immediately after Independence.
| Full name | Commandur Rajagopalachari Rangachari |
|---|---|
| Born | 1916 |
| Died | 1993 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Bowler |
| Bowling style | Right-arm fast-medium |
| Domestic team | Madras |
| National team | India |
Rangachari came up through cricket in the Madras Presidency, a region that produced several Test cricketers in the pre- and post-Independence era. He played first-class cricket primarily for Madras in the Ranji Trophy, India's premier domestic competition, which had been established in 1934.
Rangachari was selected for the Indian national side in the period immediately following Independence in 1947. He featured in India's Test matches against the visiting touring sides and on overseas tours during the late 1940s, a transitional time when Indian cricket was establishing its post-Independence identity under captains such as Lala Amarnath.
As a fast-medium bowler, he was part of an Indian attack that often relied on spin, and his role was to provide the new-ball option for the side. His first-class career was centred on Madras cricket, where he was a regular performer in the Ranji Trophy.
Rangachari belongs to the early generation of Indian Test cricketers who played in the period between India's first Test match (1932) and the consolidation of Indian Test cricket in the 1950s. His selection reflected the contribution of Madras to the national cricket pool at a time when Bombay, Bengal and the princely states had dominated team composition.