- Amarnath, Lala
-
▪ 2001Nanik Bhardwaj AmarnathIndian cricketer (b. Sept. 11, 1911, Lahore, India—d. Aug. 5, 2000, New Delhi, India), was a popular and flamboyant all-rounder and the first cricket captain of independent India after partition. In a solid first-class career (1929–64) Amarnath, a right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, made 10,323 runs (average 41.62), including 31 centuries, and took 457 wickets, despite his unusual wrong-foot delivery. Between 1933 and 1952 he played in 24 Test matches (15 as captain), scoring 878 runs (average 24.38) and capturing 45 wickets. He achieved status as a national hero overnight on Dec. 17, 1933, when he scored 118 runs against England in his Test debut—his only Test century and the first ever by an Indian batsman. Amarnath's three sons were also successful cricketers, with two, Surinder and Mohinder, representing India at Test level.
* * *
Universalium. 2010.