The Indian cricket team played its first ever international Test match in 1932 and in the last nine decades, they have achieved a lot.

During the early years, Lala Amarnath Bharadwaj was one of the most influential figures in the Indian side and also captained the team multiple times.

Renowned as a man of many talents who could bat, bowl and keep wickets, Amarnath made his debut in the second-ever Test match played by the Indian team in 1933 against England. After scoring a hundred in that match, Lala Amarnath became the first Test centurion in Indian cricket. 

Lala Amarnath – First Test centurion in Indian cricket

Batting at No. 3 on his international debut, Lala Amarnath made 118 in the second innings against England in Bombay (now Mumbai) in December 1933, in 185 minutes with 21 fours. He got a good start in the first innings as well, scoring 38 runs.

The English side led by Douglas Jardine had a difficult time containing Amarnath. However, it was the visiting side who emerged victorious, picking up a nine-wicket win. It was his only Test century in a 19-year career. In 24 Tests he made 878 runs at 24.38 and took 45 wickets at 32.91.

After a dressing-room row with the captain, the Maharaja of Vizianagaram, Amarnath was sent home from the 1936 tour of England before the first Test. He did not play another Test for 12 years, between January 1934 and June 1946. The Punjab-born cricketer was named captain for the 1947-48 tour of Australia. 

Lala Amarnath was the first captain to lead the Indian cricket team post the country’s independence. He led Team India during its maiden tour to Australia in 1947-48. This tour was also his last assignment as an Indian cricketer on foreign soil.

Lala Amarnath played three more Test series’ for India, against West Indies, England and Pakistan.

The Indian cricket icon also holds the distinction of captaining India in their first-ever Test series against arch-rivals Pakistan in 1952-53. India beat Pakistan 2-1, which was India’s first Test series win. The first of those wins, by an innings and 70 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla in the series opener, was also India’s first against Pakistan. India’s first Test win of all had come eight months earlier, against England at Madras (now Chennai) in February 1952, under Vijay Hazare. 

Lala Amarnath’s sons Mohinder and Surinder represented India as well, and his other son Rajinder played First-Class cricket. Mohinder Amarnath was a part of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning team, where he won the Player of the Match in the semi-final and the final. 

Photo Credit: Alamy