Lala Amarnath Bharadwaj was an Indian cricketer, who was the first batsman ever to score a century for India in Test cricket. He captained India in the first Test series to win against Pakistan in 1952. He played for the Hindus in the Bombay Quadrangular and made his mark early as a talented player. Alec Hosie, one of the selectors called Amarnath as the `Bradman of India` after seeing him making 109 runs for Southern Punjab against Douglas Jardine`s MCC squad in 1933-34. Lala Amarnath was the captain of the Indian team that toured Australia in 1947-1948. Amarnath died on 5th August 2000 in New Delhi. Government of India awarded him with the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
Early Life of Lala Amarnath
Lala Amarnath, also known as Nanik Bharadwaj Amarnath, was born on September 11 in 1911. He was born in Kapurthala, Punjab and was raised in Lahore. During the partition of India in 1947, Amarnath and his family had to flee from Lahore to escape a Muslim mob. He lived in Patiala till 1957, after that he moved to Delhi. He received his education at Aligarh Muslim University.
Career of Lala Amarnath
Amarnath played his debut match against England in 1933 on the Bombay Gymkhana grounds in South Bombay. Amarnath also played for the Hindus in the Bombay Quadrangular. Apart from being an efficient batsman, Lala Amarnath was also a bowler and was the only bowler to dismiss Donald Bradman hit wicket. Under his leadership, India won its first-ever Test against the Pakistan cricket team in Delhi in 1952, and went on to win the series 2-1. He also managed the team when it toured Pakistan in 1954-55.
Lala Amarnath in 1936 England Tour
Amarnath was controversially sent back from the 1936 tour of England by the captain, Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, for being undisciplined. Amarnath and others alleged it as politics. Some of the senior players in the squad, including Lala Amarnath, C. K. Nayudu and Vijay Merchant, were critical of Vizzy`s playing abilities and captaincy, and the team was split between those who supported and criticized the captain.
Career Statistics of Lala Amarnath
| Competition | Test | First-class |
| Matches | 24 | 184 |
| Runs scored | 878 | 10,426 |
| Batting average | 24.38 | 41.37 |
| 100s/50s | 1/4 | 31/59 |
| Top score | 118 | 262 |
| Balls bowled | 4241 | 29,474 |
| Wickets | 45 | 463 |
| Bowling average | 32.91 | 22.98 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 2 | 19 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | 3 |
| Best bowling | 5/96 | Jul-27 |
| Catches/stumpings | 13 | 96/2 |
