Remembering Lala Amarnath: The tradition of welcoming the legendary India all-rounder with thrown 'mangal-sutras' on his birth anniversary

New Delhi: Lala Amarnath, the first captain of independent India, was a truly exceptional all-round cricketer. He was not only a talented batsman, bowler, and fielder but also a fearless leader. While CK Nayudu, Maharajkumar, and Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi were the first three captains of India, it was Amarnath who stepped up to lead Team India after the country gained its independence.

He was born in Kapurthala on September 11, 1911. Lala Amarnath achieved many results during the years he played cricket. He scored a total of 878 runs at an average of 24.38 runs in 24 Test matches, including one century and four half-centuries, while taking 45 wickets.

In addition to amassing over 10,000 runs in 186 first-class matches, Lala Amarnath also claimed 463 wickets, showcasing his all-round abilities. Here are five significant highlights of Lala Amarnath’s illustrious career:

1. Lala Amarnath made history as the first Indian cricketer to score a century in his debut Test, amassing 118 runs in the second innings and a total of 156 runs in the match. His achievement was celebrated so fervently by women spectators at the stadium that they reportedly threw away their mangalsutras and jewelry in admiration, as recounted by ‘The Epic Channel’ on YouTube.

2. With Vijay Merchant staying back in India, Lala Amarnath captained the Indian touring team to Australia. He started that tour in form, recording 228 against Victoria and 172 against Queensland in tour matches. He was such an attraction that a local newspaper said Australian cricket enthusiasts were more anxious to watch Amarnath bat than even Don Bradman-underlining the impact of the man on tour.

3. He was a bowler who could bowl with correct line and length. Besides, he was known to be the only one bowler in the world who has ever got Sir Don Bradman out. In the Brisbane Test of 1947, Amarnath did the unthinkable when he hit the wicket of Bradman, an unforgettable moment in cricket history.

4. Under the captaincy of Lala Amarnath, India created history by defeating Pakistan for the very first time in a Test series. In fact, India beat them in the five-match series 2-1, which was itself a big victory in the annals of Indian cricket.

5. Lala Amarnath’s case was the most telling one, and controversy broke his international cricket career for as many as 12 years. During the 1936 tour of England, Captain Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagaram controversially sent Amarnath back home on the pretext of ‘indiscipline’. Amarnath claimed that it was politically motivated, and that affected his international career to a great extent. After this, Lala Amarnath had to wait 12 years to play his next Test. During this hiatus, he continued to amass runs, and in 1946, he was finally selected for the Indian team for the tour of England.