Few Indians have been as talented, controversial, and authoritative as Lala Amarnath. Hard-hitting with the bat, Amarnath became the first Indian to score a Test hundred — that too on debut; as he returned to the pavilion, women showered jewellery on him, and more prizes followed. Amarnath became an overnight hero.
Two seasons later he played what many regard his finest innings, against Jack Ryder’s Australians on a wretched pitch at Eden Gardens. India were bowled out for 48, Australia for 99, and when India batted, Amarnath was hit on the jaw by Thomas Leather. He resumed his innings (his son Mohinder would make a habit of this), top-scoring with 39.
He was a bowler who could bowl a nagging line and length to frustrate batsmen. When an exasperated Harold Gimblett asked in 1946 whether Amarnath ever bowled a half-volley, the response was spontaneous: “Oh yes, I bowled one in 1940.” On the same series he bowled a tremendous spell in the Lord’s Test, removing Len Hutton, Denis Compton, Cyril Washbrook, and Wally Hammond, reducing England to 52 for 4.
But there was more to Amarnath than that: he dared to challenge a system dominated by the royal families and BCCI. He paid for it when he was sent home midway during the 1936 tour, and ran into another tiff with Anthony de Mello in 1950.
Amarnath consolidated his position after World War II. He led India in Australia in 1947-48, lost a hard-fought series (at home against West Indies), and led India to their first series win, against Pakistan at home. The last stint happened after the fight with de Mello: the committee of selectors who chose Amarnath as captain was led by Vizzy.
His sporting skills were honed in Lahore: apart from his all-round cricket skills, he was also proficient in hockey and athletics. He had to leave Lahore amidst political riots (just before he left for Australia), but his love for the city and Pakistan never ceased. When he took his sons to the house where he grew up in Lahore, he made sure they paid respect to the soil.
In a First-Class career spanning over three decades, Amarnath scored 10,426 runs at 41.37 and picked up 463 wickets at 22.98. His Test numbers were modest — 878 runs at 24.38 and 45 wickets at 32.91 from 14 matches. However, his competitive, combative approach to the sport made him a tough opposition.
Amarnath moved into cricket administration following his retirement. He accompanied the Indian team to Pakistan in several roles, and was a respected figure on either side of the border for his efforts to keep India-Pakistan cricket relations alive.
His eldest son Surinder emulated him by scoring a hundred on Test debut (they are the only father-son pair to achieve this). Mohinder, the next son, was gutsy, brave, but unfortunate, and perhaps the greatest cricketer of the family. Rajinder, the youngest son, played First-Class cricket — as has Surinder’s son Digvijay.
Lala played significant roles in the development of their careers, often attending matches that featured one or more of the brothers. On one occasion he marched into the dressing-room and slapped one of his sons in public after the latter played an irresponsible stroke.
Amarnath went on to become a journalist, commentator, national selector, and administrator — but most importantly, left behind a legacy; he taught Indian cricketers to stand up to their causes.
Abhishek Mukherjee
Career | M | In | R | NO | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s | Ct | St |
Test | 24 | 40 | 878 | 4 | 118 | 24.38 | 360 | 243.8 | 1 | 4 | 75 | -- | 13 | 0 |
ODIs | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
T20s | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | |
World Cup | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Career | M | B | R | W | Avg | EC | SR | 5WI | 10WM | BBI | BBM |
Test | 24 | 3989 | 1481 | 45 | 32.91 | 2.227 | 88. | 2 | 0 | 5/96 | 8/167 |
ODIs | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
T20s | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
World Cup | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Test Debut
India v England at Gymkhana Ground, Mumbai, December 15, 1933
Last Test
India v Pakistan at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, December 12, 1952
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Malaysia
Match begins at 12:00 IST (06:30 GMT)
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Royal Challengers Bangalore
Match begins at 15:30 IST (10:00 GMT)
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Delhi Capitals
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Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh - 2nd Test
29 Apr, 2021 10:00 IST
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
Malaysia vs Netherlands - Match 5
21 Apr, 2021 12:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 1st Test
29 Apr, 2021 13:00 IST
Harare Sports Club, Harare
19 Apr, 2021 13:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Nepal vs Netherlands - Match 4
20 Apr, 2021 13:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
22 Apr, 2021 13:00 IST
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 1st T20I
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Harare Sports Club, Harare
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 2nd T20I
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Harare Sports Club, Harare
Zimbabwe vs Pakistan - 3rd T20I
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Harare Sports Club, Harare
Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 14
21 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Chennai Super Kings vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 19
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Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 24
29 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 28
02 May, 2021 15:30 IST
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 12
19 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians - Match 13
20 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 15
21 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 16
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Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians - Match 17
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MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 18
24 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals - Match 20
25 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 21
26 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 22
27 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 23
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Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders - Match 25
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
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30 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 27
01 May, 2021 19:30 IST
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals - Match 29
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 30
03 May, 2021 19:30 IST
Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians - Match 31
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Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 32
05 May, 2021 19:30 IST
Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Punjab Kings - Match 33
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad
Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals - Match 12
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Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians - Match 13
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MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 14
21 Apr, 2021 15:30 IST | 10:00 GMT
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Kolkata Knight Riders vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 15
21 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST | 14:00 GMT
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
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22 Apr, 2021 19:30 IST | 14:00 GMT
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad - Match 9
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South Africa vs Pakistan - 4th T20I
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Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings - Match 8
Chennai Super Kings beat Punjab Kings by 6 wickets
Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals - Match 7
Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Capitals by 3 wickets
Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore - Match 6
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