1983-Facts and Fiction

If cricket had bravery awards

"Look Javed, call me anything you want, but don't say a word against my country."

~Mohinder Amarnath to Javed Miandad

(As reported in the latter's autobiography 'Cutting Edge')

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A look at the real Mohinder Amarnath through people's words...

~Former players~

"I have not seen anyone play the Windies pace quartet with the mastery Amarnath demonstrated."

~Vivian Richards

"One of the nicest men to ever have played cricket."

~Vivian Richards

"The word conede does not exist in his vocabulary."

~David Boon

"What separated Jimmy from the others was his great ability to withstand pain...A fast bowler knows when a batsman is in pain. But Jimmy would stand up and continue."

~Michael Holding

"I have a lot of respect for Mohinder Amarnath. In time he will be really good. Was he scared of Jeff Thomson? Of course not. He met him face to face and was not frightened to hook or drive him."

~Keith Miller

"Courage thy name is Jimmy."

~Sunil Gavaskar, Idols

"The finest batsman in the world."

~Sunil Gavaskar, Idols

"Mohinder taught us how to play fast bowling."

~Sunil Gavaskar, Award Show

"In the most crucial junction of Indian cricket, Jimmy Amarnath was there, protecting Indian cricket."

~Harsha Bhogle, Castrol Activ Champions

"The joker in the pack: Unassuming, undemonstrative Jimmy turned the 1983 semi-final and final India's way."

~ESPN, Men of the Finals

"Imran Khan regarded Mohinder so highly that in his book "All Round View" he went on record to say that in the 1982–83 season, Mohinder was quite simply the best batsman in the world. Imran further went on to state that Mohinder should have played non-stop for India right from his debut in 1969 to the time he retired (After his debut series in 1969, he had to wait until 1975 to make it into the team)."

~Imran Khan

"In 1983, Mohinder Amarnath was very good. He had great powers of concentration and was very brave."

~Jeffrey Dujon

"Jimmy was a fighter to the core. If he wasn't picked by the selectors, he would go out and kick their butts by scoring so many runs and would leave them no choice but to select him."

~Rajinder Amarnath (his younger brother)

~News Articles and Books~

"Mohinder Amarnath, for instance, fears nothing."

~Robin Marlar

"Fortunately for cricket fans-and the Indian side-the commodity called 'fear' did not exist in Jimmy's mind."