Jayaram was born on 23 April 1872 in Bangalore in the then princely state of Kingdom of Mysore in the southern region of modern-day India.

[2] Historian Ramachandra Guha notes of a quote from Jayaram's British principal from the time, recognizing his talent saying, "Had he the same opportunities as WG Grace he would have been as great, for he had an eye as quick and a wrist as supple as the Doctor’s."

During the same period, an article in Cricket magazine's 1898 edition wrote, "There were occasions when Indian batsmen of the 1890s such as B Jayaram of Bangalore were seen in England as ‘plucky’ on account of their playing without protective equipment.

Jayaram's role in the defeat of an English team was noted with admiration by cricket writers in England.

"[3][6] Jayaram started his career with the Mysore Civil Service after finishing his college in 1895 working for the state's geological department.

[3] He was selected on the back of a 118 run innings that he had for the club, the previous week, in a minor match that was famously watched by Ranjitsinhji.

The match itself, scheduled by W. G. Grace, was interrupted by adverse weather conditions including snow, owing to an mid-April start.

[3] Jayaram returned to England as a part of the All-Indian cricket team in 1911, where he scored highest for the visitors in a game against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

[3][11] He had a successful run during the team's matches in Scotland and Ireland, where he scored 30 and 81 against Scottish Universities at Perth, 78 against Woodbrook Cricket Club at Bray, and 57 against Ulster at Belfast.

[3] Jayaram was also the owner of the Mashie Lodge, an iconic and "quaint" building on Bangalore's Lalbagh Road.

Contrary to orthodox Indian Hindu traditions, he was known to eat from a can of bully beef at lunch, with a dedicated chef serving him western food in a separate dining room at his lodge.