4. Mohinder Amarnath
The hero of India’s World Cup triumph in 1983, Mohinder “Jimmy” Amarnath is better known as the comeback king of Indian cricket. Aptly described by the legendary Sunil Gavaskar as the “bravest Indian batsman ever”, Jimmy was an epitome of grit, courage and determination.
Despite a decent start to his international career, Jimmy’s weakness against short-pitched bowling was no hidden secret. He suffered a fair share of blows from some of the fastest bowlers of his era including Imran Khan, Richard Hadlee and Michael Holding. A series of flops against England and Australia in the late 1970s brought about his downfall and he was subsequently ignored by Indian selectors.
This is when Amarnath started working vigorously on his technique and practiced with a more open, chest-on stance that gave him extra time against fast bowlers. The 1982-83 season marked the return of the gutsy batsman to Test cricket after almost three years.
In what turned out to be the defining stage of his career, Amarnath slammed five centuries in 11 away Tests against Pakistan and West Indies. The fast bowlers who once proved to be his nemesis were now met with little disdain.
He capped off his wonderful season by bagging the Man of the Match awards in the semi-final and final of the 1983 World Cup.
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