Mohinder Amarnath: India's Most Courageous Batsman
Mohinder Amarnath was Man of the Match in both the 1983 World Cup semi-final and final, and his bravery against pace bowling on uncovered wickets made him one of India's most respected cricketers.
Man of the Match in Semi and Final
Mohinder Amarnath — Jimmy to his teammates — played 69 Tests for India between 1969 and 1988, scoring 4,378 runs at an average of 42.50. He is best remembered for the 1983 World Cup, where he was named Man of the Match in both the semi-final against England (bowling first and restricting them, then helping finish the chase) and the final against West Indies, where his 26 in a low total proved decisive and his bowling accounted for Richards and Bacchus.
Bravery Against Pace
Amarnath was hit on the head and body repeatedly throughout his career by the world's fastest bowlers but refused to wear a helmet in the early years and rarely flinched. His courage against the West Indian pace attack — Roberts, Holding, Garner, Croft and Marshall — in the 1970s and 1980s earned him universal respect. He had a compact technique built for survival on difficult pitches.
Frequently asked questions
What did Mohinder Amarnath do in the 1983 World Cup final?
Amarnath scored 26 runs and took the crucial wickets of Viv Richards and Faoud Bacchus in the final against the West Indies, winning Man of the Match as India lifted the trophy.