Mohinder Amarnath Bhardwaj was born on September 24, 1950, in Patiala, in the state of Punjab, India. He is the worthy son of the illustrious Lala Amarnath. Lala Amarnath, happened to be the first captain of the Indian cricket team, in the post-independence era. The family-passion for cricket is obvious, as Mohinder`s brother, Surinder Amarnath , has also represented India.
Cricket Career of Mohinder Amarnath
This right-hand batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, Mohinder`s first appearance against Australia at Chennai in December 1969, marked the beginning of his cricketer`s career.
He scored his first test hundred, at Perth, at the WACA Ground famous for being the world`s fastest and the bounciest wicket. The striker Amarnath, tossed off the super fast bowling of Jeff Thomson, with his sturdy bat. He repeated this history of reaching 10 more enchanting test centuries, beating the gushing speed of fast bowling. He made his first test century at Perth at the WACA (the fastest and bounciest wicket in the world) batting against Jeff Thomson at his fastest. He followed this test century with another 10 against top class fast bowling.
Though the initial phase of his professional life was a bit topsy-turvy yet he retained the towering resolution, in the face of all dire straits, and courageously proved his honest adherence to laws. He finally cast himself as the master of pace bowling. His peak time during 1982-83 seasons, where he climbed up the high pedestals of 1182 runs consolidated by 5 dashing centuries. He participated in 5 Tests against Pakistan, and an additional 6 against, West Indies.
Amarnath exhibited fascinating feats in the 1983 Cricket World Cup. In the 1983 World Cup Final, when the team effort culminated to a little score of 183, after 54.4 overs. Amarnath remained the steadiest on the field for the longest duration, securing 26 runs of 80 balls. Though the runs accumulated by him, was not satisfactory, but in that hour of emergency, when India, failed to sustain itself, not even for the complete period of 60 overs batting, Amarnath was better than his colleagues. Amaranth`s tenacity, aided his partners, namely, Kris Srikkanth, the match`s top-scorer to gather 38 runs, and also Sandeep Patil to hit 27 runs.
India`s chances of win in the Final of 1983 seemed nil. But the skilled Indians utilised the favourable weather and the bowler-friendly pitch to the fullest. They valiantly knocked out West Indies, for 140, runs. India, thereby, ahead of 43 runs, grabbed, regally the royal World Cup Trophy.
Both, Amarnath and Madan Lal were the highest wicker-conquerors. Each of these two fiery bowlers picked up 3 wickets.
In the semi-finals of 1983`s World Cup, Amarnath was the strategic bowler , allowing the flow of only 27 runs in 12 overs, at an highly economical average of 2.25 per over. His perfect execution of seam bowling plundered the vital wickets of David Gower and Mike Gating. Amarnath, did the bold batting, fetching him, splendid 46 runs. He cemented India`s sway over the opponent.
Amarnath was crowned the glorious "Man of the Match" in the crucial semi-finals and finals of the 1983 World Cup Championship.
Cricket Statistics
Batting and Fielding Averages
|
Mat |
Inns |
NO |
Runs |
HS |
Ave |
BF |
SR |
100 |
50 |
6s |
Ct |
St |
| Tests |
69 |
113 |
10 |
4378 |
138 |
42.50 |
|
|
11 |
24 |
21 |
47 |
0 |
| ODIs |
85 |
75 |
12 |
1924 |
102* |
30.53 |
3334 |
57.70 |
2 |
13 |
|
23 |
0 |
| First-class |
248 |
379 |
61 |
13747 |
207 |
43.22 |
|
|
30 |
67 |
|
153 |
0 |
| List A |
109 |
99 |
17 |
2701 |
102* |
32.93 |
|
|
2 |
18 |
|
26 |
0 |
Bowling Averages
|
Mat |
Inns |
Balls |
Runs |
Wkts |
BBI |
BBM |
Ave |
Econ |
SR |
4w |
5w |
10 |
| Tests |
69 |
71 |
3676 |
1782 |
32 |
4/63 |
4/63 |
55.68 |
2.90 |
114.8 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| ODIs |
85 |
64 |
2730 |
1971 |
46 |
3/12 |
3/12 |
42.84 |
4.33 |
59.3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| First-class |
248 |
|
21056 |
9107 |
277 |
7/27 |
|
32.87 |
2.59 |
76.0 |
|
8 |
1 |
| List A |
109 |
|
3703 |
2611 |
61 |
3/12 |
3/12 |
42.80 |
4.23 |
60.7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Indeed, Mohinder Amarnath proved his mettle, substantially. In his "Idols",
Sunil Gavaskar has celebrated Mohinder Amarnath as tone of the world`s excellent batsmen. Even eminent players of foreign teams, like Imran Khan and Malcolm Marshall have voted a lot for Mohinder`s prowess as a wonderful batsman. Mohinder Amarnath has been a natural player, with an innate aptitude for batting and bowling at the same time.
