'The Braveheart' session at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) 2025 brought together cricketing legends Mohinder Amarnath and his brother Rajinder Amarnath, with renowned author and politician Shashi Tharoor moderating the discussion. The conversation was an exploration of grit, setbacks, and extraordinary comebacks, celebrating Mohinder Amarnath’s remarkable journey as 'The Comeback Man' of Indian Cricket. They talked about a memoir book written with his brother Rajender Amarnath, Fearless : A Memoir gives readers a keen insight into his personality and a glimpse into a bygone, glorious era of cricket. 

Maybe they can delay your arrival, but they cannot drop you forever

Tharoor opened the session by recalling how Mohinder Amarnath had stunned Australia on his debut in 1969, clean bowling Keith Stackpole. Yet, despite his early success, he was inexplicably dropped.

Amarnath reflected on those frustrating years: "I was expecting to go to the West Indies in 1971. I was excited, I was doing well, and then I was not picked. I was very, very disappointed. But I learned one thing—okay, they don’t want me today, but I’ll keep performing to an extent that they can’t ignore me."

For six years, he remained in the wilderness despite consistent domestic performances. "I never thought about anything else. I played university matches, local matches, and concentrated. When you do that, people cannot ignore you."

Tough parents make tough children

Tharoor turned the conversation to Amarnath’s childhood, asking whether his resilience was shaped by tough love at home.

"My mother told me later that I was a very stubborn child," Amarnath admitted. "If I wanted something and didn’t get it, I would throw tantrums. Once, I climbed up the railing of our apartment and threatened to jump off. My mother just looked at me and said, ‘Jump! You’re not going to die from this height; you’ll just spend your life as a cripple.’ That was it -- I climbed down immediately."

Rajinder Amarnath nodded in agreement. "Our father, Lala Amarnath, was equally tough. He used to say, ‘Lions don’t cry.’ He trained us by making us play with wet tennis balls on concrete at a reduced pitch length. Those balls hurt, but he told us never to rub our wounds."

The bloodbath at Barbados and a defining knock

Tharoor steered the discussion to the infamous 1976 Barbados Test, where four Indian batsmen were sent to the hospital by brutal West Indian fast bowling.

“I scored 64 runs in that innings,” Mohinder recalled, adding, “But at one point, we had to declare because we didn’t have enough batsmen left to face those fast bowlers.”

Rajinder added, “That tour was a turning point. India was facing the fiercest fast bowlers in the world, and it was a trial by fire. Mohinder became known for standing up to them.”

The defining moment came in the Port of Spain Test. India was set an impossible target of over 400 runs. “Bishan Singh Bedi just told me, ‘Stay there, even if you don’t score runs.’ I batted for more than ten hours and scored 85. When I got out, I was in tears. We were in a position to win, and I wanted to be there to see it through.”

Meet fire with fire

Tharoor pointed out that, unlike many English and Australian players, Amarnath never wore a helmet against fast bowlers.

“We were players from Punjab,” Amarnath shrugged. “We never thought of protecting ourselves. The moment you start defending, you take your eyes off the ball, and that doesn’t work. You meet fire with fire.”

1983 World Cup and the forgotten contributions

Tharoor shifted the focus to India’s historic 1983 World Cup victory, where Amarnath was named Man of the Match in both the semi-final and final.

Yet, when asked about the film 83, Amarnath had a sharp critique. “It felt more like a biopic of Kapil Dev than a story of the 1983 Indian team. They talk about Kapil Dev’s 175 and his catch, but have you ever heard anyone mention Roger Binny’s wickets or my performances? Even in the film, I was more of a silent character.”

Tharoor added, “You took the final wicket that won India the World Cup, but the spotlight didn’t quite shine on you the way it should have.”

A bunch of jokers

Rajinder Amarnath spoke about how Mohinder’s career was repeatedly derailed by inexplicable selections. “Twelve times he was dropped despite doing well. It was as if they were waiting for an excuse.”

Mohinder recalled one of the most shocking instances. “In 1983, after being Man of the Match against Pakistan, I was suddenly dropped. A journalist told me, and I refused to believe it. But it was true.”

His frustration led to the now-iconic statement: “The selectors are a bunch of jokers.”

Tharoor chuckled, “That remains one of the most memorable quotes in Indian cricket history.”

Mohinder shrugged. “I never went out of my way to please people. Maybe that was my mistake.”

If you can’t break through, keep knocking

Despite the setbacks, Amarnath’s philosophy remained simple. “Keep performing, keep knocking on the door. Maybe they can delay your arrival, but they cannot drop you forever.”

Tharoor concluded the session by acknowledging the sheer perseverance that defined Mohinder Amarnath’s career. “Your story isn’t just about cricket—it’s about resilience, patience, and the power of never giving up.”

The audience erupted in applause, celebrating a man who refused to bow to adversity.