A gripping memoir that captures essence of Mohinder Amarnath’s remarkable journey

By Harsh Thakor*

Mohinder Amarnath’s autobiography, Fearless, released thirty-five years after his departure from international cricket, is a fitting tribute to his relentless courage on the cricket pitch. Co-written with his brother Rajender Amarnath, this memoir is a balanced, forthright, and anecdotal account that explores not just Amarnath's cricketing career but also his family life, philosophies, and the trials he faced both as a cricketer and as a person.

The memoir begins with touching reflections on his childhood experiences and the profound influence of his father, Lala Amarnath, on his life and career. Written in a simple, lucid style, the book is a compelling read, capturing the essence of Amarnath’s rollercoaster journey in cricket. It portrays his career as one of the most enduring tales in Indian sports history, blending moments of triumph with setbacks and controversies, akin to an epic novel with continuous ebb and flow.

Amarnath’s career was a mix of incredible highs—such as being a key player in India’s 1983 World Cup victory—and lows, including team exclusions and mental health struggles. The book reveals how Lala Amarnath remained his guiding light throughout these challenges. It is a testament to Mohinder’s grit, resilience, and ability to rise from adversity, embodying the spirit of a role model who thrived in the face of perilous odds.

Vivian Richards once hailed Amarnath as “the best player of fast bowling in the world” in 1983—a remarkable accolade for an Indian cricketer, given India’s struggles against express pace at the time. Despite his talent, Amarnath faced repeated exclusions from the Indian team, often for political reasons. The book critiques these injustices and highlights how such decisions impeded Indian cricket’s progress.

The Ultimate Epitome of Courage

Fearless emphasizes Amarnath’s technical correctness, courage, and mental resilience. The book vividly recounts his comebacks, comparing his indomitable spirit to that of Muhammad Ali. Despite often suffering in silence, Amarnath never hesitated to criticize the cricket board or selectors when warranted.

The book showcases Amarnath’s extraordinary overseas performances, with nine of his eleven Test hundreds scored away from home. His ability to deliver under pressure made him the ultimate player for a crisis.

Career Highlights

Amarnath nostalgically recalls key moments from his career, starting with his Test debut against Australia in Chennai in December 1969. He recounts his marathon 85 against the West Indies in 1976, which played a pivotal role in India’s historic record run chase of 406. He narrates how the West Indies pace battery unleashed intimidatory tactics in Kingston, sending many Indian players to the hospital.

The book details his experiences on the 1977-78 tour of Australia, where, despite India’s defeat, Amarnath’s performances won hearts. He vividly describes combating Jeff Thomson’s fiery pace on fast, bouncy pitches, topping the batting averages on the tour.

Amarnath also shares his memories of the 1978 tour of Pakistan, his emotional connection to the country, and the biased umpiring that often worked against India. He speaks candidly about his peak period from December 1982 to June 1983, during which he dominated express pace attacks, including Imran Khan’s formidable Pakistani bowling lineup and the Caribbean pace quartet of Roberts, Holding, Garner, and Marshall.

He recounts his pivotal role in India’s 1983 World Cup triumph, earning Man of the Match awards in both the semifinal and the final. The book also highlights his resurgence in 1984-85 with a match-saving century in Pakistan and his consistent performances in subsequent years.

Revelations Against Selectors

Amarnath openly criticizes selectors for their unfair treatment during his career, famously referring to them as “a bunch of jokers.” He discusses how he learned about his selection for the 1983 World Cup from a friend in the UK, rather than the BCCI.

Player Appraisals

Amarnath boldly compares Imran Khan and Sunil Gavaskar as captains, praising Khan’s inclusive leadership style. He describes Michael Holding as the best fast bowler he faced, citing Holding’s flawless action and lightning speed. Amarnath also lauds the batting skills of Sunil Gavaskar and Gundappa Vishwanath and praises Indian spin legends like Bishan Bedi, Chandrashekhar, and Prasanna.

Critiques and Missed Opportunities

While Fearless is an engaging read, it misses addressing some broader issues that plagued Indian cricket, such as internal dissent, captaincy disputes, and inadequate team cohesion. The book also lacks a detailed evaluation of the evolution of cricket post-Amarnath’s retirement.

Conclusion

Despite its minor shortcomings, Fearless is a gripping memoir that captures the essence of Mohinder Amarnath’s remarkable journey. It is a story of courage, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit, making it an essential read for cricket fans and sports enthusiasts alike.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

CFA flags ‘welfare retreat’ in Union Budget 2026–27, alleges corporate bias

By Jag Jivan The advocacy group Centre for Financial Accountability (CFA) has sharply criticised the Union Budget 2026–27 , calling it a “budget sans kartavya” that weakens public welfare while favouring private corporations, even as inequality, climate risks and social distress deepen across the country.

From water scarcity to sustainable livelihoods: The turnaround of Salaiya Maaf

By Bharat Dogra We were sitting at a central place in Salaiya Maaf village, located in Mahoba district of Uttar Pradesh, for a group discussion when an elderly woman said in an emotional voice, “It is so good that you people came. Land on which nothing grew can now produce good crops.”

Paper guarantees, real hardship: How budget 2026–27 abandons rural India

By Vikas Meshram In the history of Indian democracy, the Union government’s annual budget has always carried great significance. However, the 2026–27 budget raises several alarming concerns for rural India. In particular, the vague provisions of the VBG–Ram Ji scheme and major changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) have put the future of rural workers at risk. A deeper reading of the budget reveals that these changes are not merely administrative but are closely tied to political and economic priorities that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of rural households.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

Frugal funds, fading promises: Budget 2026 exposes shrinking space for minority welfare

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Ministry of Minority Affairs was established in 2006 during the tenure of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, following the findings of the Sachar Committee, which documented that Muslims were among the most educationally and economically disadvantaged communities in India. The ministry was conceived as a corrective institutional response to deep structural inequalities faced by religious minorities, particularly Muslims, through focused policy interventions.

From Puri to the State: How Odisha turned the dream of drinkable tap water into policy

By Hans Harelimana Hirwa, Mansee Bal Bhargava Drinking water directly from the tap is generally associated with developed countries where it is considered safe and potable. Only about 50 countries around the world offer drinkable tap water, with the majority located in Europe and North America, and a few in Asia and Oceania. Iceland, Switzerland, Finland, Germany, and Singapore have the highest-quality tap water, followed by Canada, New Zealand, Japan, the USA, Australia, the UK, Costa Rica, and Chile.

Search This Blog