Name Hindi: मदन लाल / Gender Coach
Madan Lal: Renowned Indian Cricket All-Rounder
Madan Lal Udhouram Sharma, widely known as Madan Lal, is an iconic figure in the world of cricket. Born on March 20th,1949 in Amritsar, Punjab, India, he made significant contributions to the game both as a player and coach for the Indian National team. His professional career marked numerous victories for Indian cricket.
Early Career
Hailing from humble beginnings, Madan Lal stepped into first-class cricket playing for Punjab (in Ranji Trophy) just before his 18th birthday in 1968. He instantly caught attention with his promising performance as both batsman and bowler.
International Career And Achievements
- Madan Lal had his international debut on January 25th,1974 against England.
- In his One Day Internationals (ODI) debut match on July 13th,1974 against England, he claimed three important wickets contributing to India’s victory.
- He was part of the victorious Indian squad at the historic World Cup win in 1983. Madan Lal proved instrumental in this success when he took the vital wicket of Viv Richard that turned the tides towards India’s favor.
- Although primarily a medium-pace bowler renowned for outswingers from near the stumps, Madan Lal also showed excellent form with bat making four half-centuries during Test matches. His Test career boasts of 1042 runs and 71 wickets while his ODI record comprises of approximately 608 runs and 73 wickets.
Career As A Coach And Backroom Staff
Having retired from professional playing in 1987, he had later taken up the responsibility as a coach and selector for several years. His tenure as a coach from 1996 to 2001 witnessed ups and downs but is well remembered for nurturing young talents.
- Under his guidance, the Indian team won its first overseas test series after nearly 16 years against Zimbabwe.
- As a member of the Cricket Advisory Committee, Madan Lal contributes significantly in selecting coaches and players for various teams including those at Ranji and IPL (Indian Premier League) levels.
Career Recognition
For his tireless efforts towards cricket, Madan Lal was conferred with prestigious awards like Arjuna Award in 1970-71 and Padma Shri in 1982 by Government of India. He has been honored multiple times by sports associations across the world.
To sum it up, Madan Lal’s contributions to cricket are significant both on-field as a player or off-field as a mentor. He continues to inspire many rising cricketers with his game winning strategies. A legendary sportsperson indeed!
