Historic Bradman Cap Fetches Record Price
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Gold Coast, Australia
- Jan 27, 2026
- 611
A priceless piece of cricket history — Australian legend Sir Donald (Don) Bradman’s iconic Baggy Green cap — has been sold at auction for A$460,000 (around ₹2.92 crore). The auction was conducted on the Gold Coast, with the buyer remaining anonymous.
This rare cap dates back to the 1947–48 Test series against India, which was India’s first Test tour after independence. What makes the cap even more significant is its remarkable backstory.
A Gift to India’s First-Era Cricketer:
Bradman had gifted this very cap to Indian cricketer Shriranga Sohoni (S.W. Sohoni) after the conclusion of the series. Sohoni had played only the first Test match of that tour but earned a unique place in history by bowling the first-ever ball for independent India in Test cricket.
Although Sohoni did not take a wicket in that match, Bradman later presented him with his cap as a personal memento.
Preserved for 75 Years in Secrecy
The Sohoni family preserved the cap for nearly 75 years, never displaying it publicly.
Lloyds Auctions COO Lee Hames described it as “the most precious treasure in the world of cricket.”
He revealed that the family followed a tradition:
“When a family member turned 16, they were allowed to see the cap for just five minutes.”
Inside the cap are handwritten the names “D.G. Bradman” and “S.W. Sohoni,” with “1947–48” embroidered beneath the Australian emblem.
Only 11 Baggy Green caps worn by Bradman are known to exist today, as players in that era used different caps for different series.
Auction Records and Comparisons
The record for the most expensive Baggy Green cap still belongs to Shane Warne, whose cap was auctioned in 2020 for about A$1 million (₹5.90 crore), with proceeds donated to bushfire relief.
Another Bradman cap from his 1928 debut series was sold in 2020 for approximately ₹2.65 crore.
Bradman vs India (1947–48)
Australia won the series 4–0.
Bradman was at his devastating best, scoring 715 runs at an average of 178.75, including three centuries — one of the greatest series performances in cricket history.