Janardan Navle (1902–1979) was an Indian cricketer who is remembered as one of the players who represented India in its inaugural Test match. A wicket-keeper by trade, Navle was part of the Indian side that played its first official Test against England at Lord's in June 1932, marking India's entry into Test cricket.
| Full name | Janardan Gyanoba Navle |
|---|---|
| Born | 1902 |
| Died | 1979 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Role | Wicket-keeper, batsman |
| Notable distinction | Member of India's first Test match squad (1932) |
Navle began his cricketing career in the 1920s, a period when Indian cricket was organised largely around regional, communal, and princely state teams. He established himself as a competent wicket-keeper in domestic cricket before being chosen for national representative duties.
Navle was part of the All-India side that toured England in 1932 under the captaincy of the Maharaja of Porbandar, with C. K. Nayudu eventually leading the team in the Test match. The tour was historic, as it included India's first official Test fixture.
India's first Test was played against England at Lord's, London, beginning on 25 June 1932. Navle was among the eleven players who took the field for India in that match, batting at the top of the order alongside opener Naoomal Jaoomal. England won the match, but the fixture established India as a Test-playing nation.
Navle continued to feature in Indian cricket through the 1930s, including in the early years of the Ranji Trophy, which was inaugurated in the 1934–35 season as India's premier domestic first-class competition.
Navle's place in the history of Indian cricket is anchored by his participation in the country's debut Test, a foundational moment for the sport's organised growth in India. Players from this pioneering generation, including C. K. Nayudu, Mohammad Nissar, Amar Singh, Lall Singh, and Navle himself, are regarded as the original cohort of Indian Test cricketers.