Lala Amarnath Bhardwaj, born on September 11, 1911, in Kapurthala, Punjab, is considered one of the founding figures of Indian cricket. He achieved numerous historic milestones in the sport, earning him the title of father figure of Indian cricket.
Career Highlights
First Test Century: Lala Amarnath became the first Indian to score a Test century, achieving this feat on his debut against England in December 1933 with a score of 118 runs.
Captaincy: He was the first captain of an independent India, leading the team from 1947 to 1952. Under his leadership, India secured its first Test series victory against Pakistan in 1952.
Bowling Achievements: Amarnath is also notable for being the first bowler to dismiss Don Bradman by hit-wicket during a Test match in November 1947.
First-Class Cricket: He had an impressive first-class record, scoring 10,426 runs at an average of 41.37, including 31 centuries and 39 half-centuries.
Legacy
Family Contributions: His sons, Mohinder and Surinder Amarnath, also played for India. Mohinder was a key player in Indias 1983 World Cup victory.
Awards and Recognition: Lala Amarnath was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and received the inaugural C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994.
Post-Retirement Roles: After his playing career, Amarnath served as a selector, manager, coach, and broadcaster, contributing significantly to Indian crickets development.
Lala Amarnath passed away on August 5, 2000, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of cricketers.
Description
Lala Amarnath Bhardwaj, born on September 11, 1911, in Kapurthala, Punjab, is considered one of the founding figures of Indian cricket. He achieved numerous historic milestones in the sport, earning him the title of father figure of Indian cricket. Career Highlights First Test Century: Lala Amarnath became the first Indian to score a Test century, achieving this feat on his debut against England in December 1933 with a score of 118 runs. Captaincy: He was the first captain of an independent India, leading the team from 1947 to 1952. Under his leadership, India secured its first Test series victory against Pakistan in 1952. Bowling Achievements: Amarnath is also notable for being the first bowler to dismiss Don Bradman by hit-wicket during a Test match in November 1947. First-Class Cricket: He had an impressive first-class record, scoring 10,426 runs at an average of 41.37, including 31 centuries and 39 half-centuries. Legacy Family Contributions: His sons, Mohinder and Surinder Amarnath, also played for India. Mohinder was a key player in Indias 1983 World Cup victory. Awards and Recognition: Lala Amarnath was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and received the inaugural C.K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. Post-Retirement Roles: After his playing career, Amarnath served as a selector, manager, coach, and broadcaster, contributing significantly to Indian crickets development. Lala Amarnath passed away on August 5, 2000, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations of cricketers.