Duleepsinhji, the nephew of the cricketer Ranjitsinhji, was also a cricketer who played for England. He was born into the Princely State of Kathiawar. He arrived in Britain in 1921 and was educated at Cheltenham College and Cambridge. Duleepsinhji played for the Cheltenham XI from 1921 to 1923. He played cricket for Cambridge from 1925 to 1927 (gaining a Blue), and for Sussex from 1926 to 1931. He was captain of Sussex in 1931 and 1932. He played for England in twelve test matches and scored a century on his debut against Australia. However, in 1929, Duleepsinhji was not selected to play against South Africa after the first test, an omission that he believed was because some South African politicians did not want to see their team to concede runs to a man of colour. His career was beset by illness and he was forced to retire in 1931.

Duleepsinhji joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1949 and served as India High Commissioner in Australia and New Zealand.