Lala Amarnath Bharadwaj (11 September 1911 - 5 August 2000) was an Indian cricketer. He scored a century on test debut and became the first player to score a century for the India national cricket team in Test cricket. He was independent India's first cricket captain and captained India in their first Test series win against Pakistan in 1952. He played only three Test Matches before World War 2 (India played no official Test matches during the war). During this time he amassed around 10,000 runs with 30 hundreds in first class cricket which included teams from Australia and England. After the war he played another 21 Test Matches for India. He later became the chairman of the Senior Selection Committee, BCCI and was also a commentator and expert. His proteges include Chandu Borde, M.L. Jaisimha, and Jasu Patel who played for India. His sons Surinder and Mohinder Amarnath also became Test players for India. His grandson Digvijay is also a current first class player. The Government of India awarded him the civilian honour of the Padma Bhushan in 1991. Early life Amarnath was born in an impoverished Brahmin family of Kapurthala, Punjab. Recognizing his talent in Lahore, a Muslim cricketing household adopted Amarnath. He played his debut match against England in 1933 on the Bombay Gymkhana grounds in South Bombay. Amarnath also played for the Hindus in the Bombay Quadrangular. Aside from being a batsman, Lala Amarnath was also a bowler, the only one to dismiss Donald Bradman hit wicket. Test career In 1933's England's tour of India, Lala Amarnath was leading run scorer. In the series he created history by scoring first ever Test 100 by India cricket batter at Bombay. Amarnath was controversially sent back from the 1936 tour of England by the captain, the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, for "indiscipline". Amarnath and others allege it was due to politics. Vizzy, the Maharajkumar of Vizianagram, was named the captain for Indian cricket team for the 1936 tour of England, a post that he secured after lobbying and manipulation. Some of the senior players in the squad, including Lala Amarnath, C. K. Nayudu and Vijay Merchant, were critical of Vizzy's playing abilities and captaincy, and the team was split between those who supported and criticised the captain. During India's match against Minor Counties at Lord's Lala Amarnath had been nursing a back injury during the game. Vizzy had Amarnath