A baggy green cap worn by Sir Donald Bradman during Australia’s 1947-48 series against India has fetched a record $460,000 at a Gold Coast auction, making it the most expensive cap worn by the legendary batsman.
The historic cap was originally gifted by Bradman to Indian cricketer Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni, whose family carefully preserved it for three generations over 75 years.
Lee Hames, chief operating officer of Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers, said:
“The family kept it under strict rules – only allowed to be viewed for five minutes at age 16.”
The cap, inscribed inside with “D.G. Bradman” and “S.W. Sohoni,” was sold to an anonymous bidder and will now be displayed in an Australian museum.
Its pristine condition helped it surpass the previous record, set in 2024 when another Bradman cap from the same series sold for $311,000 despite fading and insect damage.
Bradman, widely regarded as cricket’s greatest batsman, scored 715 runs in that series, including his 100th first-class century, leading Australia to a 4-0 series victory over India – the country’s first tour as an independent nation.
The auction highlights not just the cap’s monetary value but also its historical and sporting significance. “This is a genuine piece of cricket history personally gifted by Sir Donald Bradman,” Hames said.
“Its uninterrupted family ownership and direct link to ‘The Don’ make it one of the most significant Bradman items ever to come to auction.”
Only 11 of Bradman’s baggy greens are known to survive, making this sale a rare opportunity for collectors and museums. The cap’s journey from a Mumbai family home to an Australian auction house also underscores the lasting cricketing bond between India and Australia.
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