Lala Amarnath’s Audacious Decision in the Inaugural Irani Cup
In the annals of Indian cricket, the inaugural Irani Cup match of 1960 stands as a testament to the audacity and innovation of legendary cricketer Lala Amarnath. As the chairman of the national selection committee, Amarnath’s bold decision to field a player not originally in the batting lineup sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.
The Irani Cup, named after the late ZR Irani, was conceived to pit the reigning Ranji Trophy champions against a Rest of India team. The inaugural match was held at Delhi’s Karnail Singh Stadium from March 18-20, 1960. Amarnath, who had the distinction of scoring the first century for India in his debut Test, led the Rest of India team, while Polly Umrigar captained the Bombay team.
In a move that defied convention, Amarnath decided to send in Prem Bhatia, the 12th man for the Rest of India team, to bat in his place after sustaining an injury. This unprecedented decision was met with astonishment and disbelief, as it violated the established rules of cricket.
However, both Lala and the umpires disregarded the regulations, allowing Bhatia to bat in both innings. In the first innings, he came in at No. 9 and scored 22 runs. In the second innings, he was promoted to No. 3 and contributed a valuable 50 runs.
Amarnath’s audacious decision not only showcased his willingness to challenge the status quo but also foreshadowed the future introduction of the substitute rule by the International Cricket Council (ICC). This rule allows a player who was not originally named in the XI to come out to bat or bowl in certain circumstances.
Beyond his groundbreaking decision in the Irani Cup, Lala Amarnath played a pivotal role in Indian cricket history. He holds the distinction of being the first Indian to lead the national team in ten consecutive Test matches. During his tenure as captain, which spanned 15 Tests, Amarnath achieved a significant milestone for Indian cricket.
Under Amarnath’s leadership, India secured their maiden Test victory against their arch-rivals, Pakistan. This groundbreaking match took place at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi in October 1952. India’s performance was nothing short of dominant, as they comprehensively defeated Pakistan by an innings and 70 runs, asserting their superiority on the cricket field.