Rajesh Rama Naik (born 20 December 1974) is an Indian former first-class cricketer.
Life and career
Naik was born at Mapusa in north Goa. He made his debut for Goa in a List A one-day match against Kerala in December 1993 in the Ranji Trophy One Day competition.[1] He featured twice more for Goa in that seasons competition.[1] Having not featured for Goa since his three initial one-day matches, Naik made a return to the Goan side, returning to one-day action in the 1995–96 Ranji Trophy One Day competition.[1] He made his debut in first-class cricket in January 1996 against Tamil Nadu in the 1995–96 Ranji Trophy.[2] He continued to play first-class and List A one-day cricket for Goa until the 2003–04 season, having by that point played a total of 28 first-class and 20 List A matches for Goa.[2][1] He scored 1,047 runs in first-class cricket, with a highest score of 133, which was his only century. His batting average was 20.52;[3] he bowled 129.5 overs in first-class cricket, taking two wickets at the high average of 227.00.[4] In List A matches he scored 326 runs, with a top score of 78 not out;[5] he took seven wickets in one-day cricket, with a bowling average of 45.57.[6] Naik also featured in a single List A match for the Will's XI against the Indian Board President's XI in the 1997–98 Wills Trophy at Bhilwara.[1] Naik was dismissed in this match without scoring by Jacob Martin.[7]
Naik later moved to England to coach cricket,[8] where he played club cricket in Dorset and Hampshire. After strong performances in the Dorset league, he was selected to make his debut for Dorset in a friendly 20-over match against Somerset, played as part of Somerset's preparations for the 2010 Twenty20 Cup.[8] He dismissed England international Craig Kieswetter during the match.[9] Later that season, Naik made two appearances for Dorset in the Minor Counties Championship.[10] He opened an Indian restaurant in Bournemouth in 2011.[11]
