One of India’s legendary cricketer and a key player in 1983 ODI World Cup—Mohinder Amarnath, turns 74 today September 24. And unlike now, back then also it was a time when things happened that could stir a hornet’s nest when one was dropped from the Indian cricket team.
This would be an understatement to say that the victory of World Cup 1983 was a turning point or a defining moment in the history of Indian cricket.
It was on June 25 th, 1983 at Lord’s when the captain evident despite his glamour, stunned the two-times defending World champions West Indies that this lead the team to change probably forever.
Matching the tactics and performance, Mohinder Amarnath also enhanced and steeled the Indian teams resolve to win malaria defeating the bully world crying heretioment to the old glories.
First of all I would like to thank you for giving this opportunity. The semi-final against the hosts England which took place on 22nd June 1983 in Manchester. Amarnath took two wickets. In Indian run-order, he successfully struck 46 needed runs. India Won the match by 06 wickets.
Three days later on june 25, 1983 at the lord’s cricket ground, where amarnath’s blows were courageous, consistent & superb made him score slightly 26 runs from all the indian batsmen that was the second highest score that day, as india team led by kapil dev was bundled under for muffin 183.
However, that is when Amarnath unleashed his magic with the ball. His 3/12 in 7 overs helped to dismiss the Windies for 140 runs making it possible for India to achieve a historic victory. This made the score an impossible to forget chapter with Helmed Indian cricket forever.
Mohinder Amarnath and Kapil Dev in a picture taken on June 25 1983 at Lord’s with the 1983 World Cup trophy. Photo Patrick Eagar/Patrick Eagar Collection Getty Images
And Amarnath’s line ‘Selectors are a bunch of jokers’ in regard to the criticism which has been directed towards him and the role of former BCCI supremo Dungarpur Raj Singh after he was dropped from the playing squad for the home test series against New Zealand in 1988 which I must add was all too aggressive sons as one of the legends of Indian cricket. He was also, however, quite the principled man as well.
The hostility that existed between Amarnath and Dungarpur, an Indian cricket administrator and selector of high neglect, was a notable incidence in the history of Indian cricket in the late 1980’s.
What emerged concurrently was Amarnath’s criticism of the selection process, which was justified in many ways owing to his larger than life personality which often went on a head on collision with Dungarpur.
Amarnath’s exclusion from the Indian cricket team due to controversy includes Dungarpur, who at the time served as a member of the chairman of selectors.
Though Amarnath has been in good touch and contributed to the Indian team’s success (particularly the 1983 World Cup win), he often found himself out of the team. He was therefore a very frustrated person and quite cross with the management as Amarnath thought that there was nepotism involved in the decision.
This repeated snubbing by the committee evoked this reaction from Amarnath as he went on an offensive and called selection committee members “italian jokers” which was believed to be pointed towards Dungarpur and other selectors.
Amarnath’s public outburst against the committee, particularly against Dungarpur infuriated Dungarpur who was a major force in Indian cricket, leading to further breakdown of Mr Amarnath and Dungarpur’s relationship.
However, such respect given to Dungarpur because of his services to Indian cricket management including promotion of the young players was for Amarnath a bitter revenge factor, portraying bad environment in talent acquisitions those days.
The feud between the two came to be a metaphor for much deeper problems of transparency and politics that all-around Indian cricket during that time.
The outspoken nature of Amarnath created sensation in the news and so did his comment which was appreciable to large number of cricket lovers who were also tired of the ever-changing policies of selection of the team.
Yet even in the midst of the drama, Amarnath continued to be regarded as an icon of Indian cricket thanks to his excellent displays on the field particularly in the World cup where India lifted the trophy in 1983.
The junior Amarnath, Lala’s son, is also the 1st India captain post-independence, Mohinder Amarnath, more popularly known as ‘Jimmy’. He has also been referred to as the comeback man of Indian cricket and was appreciated for his character, guts and willpower.
In Test matches, Amarnath participated in 69 matches and achieved 4,378 runs with 11 centuries, 24 fifties, and captured 32 wickets. He also appeared in 85 ODIs for India.
