Arun Lal is a former Indian cricketer, who was a right-handed opening batsman and a cricket commentator.
Wiki/Biography
Jagdishlal Arun Lal was born on Monday, 1 August 1955 (age 66 years; as of 2021) in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. He did his education at Mayo School, Ajmer, following which he earned a level in Economics from St. Stephen’s School, Delhi.
Bodily Look
Peak (approx.): 5′ 9″
Hair Color: Salt & Pepper
Eye Color: Black

Arun Lal through the second day of the two-day gamers’ public sale for the fourth version of Indian Premier League (IPL), in Bangalore on 9 January 2011
Household
Lal belongs to a household of cricketers. His father, uncle, and cousin had performed first-class cricket earlier than him.
Mother and father
His father, Dhir Jagdish Lal, was additionally a gap batsman, who represented 8 completely different groups in 16 first-class matches.
Spouse
Arun Lal was married to Reena however they parted methods by a mutual choice. Though separated, Arun nonetheless lives together with his first spouse who’s ailing. He lives with Reena to deal with her. Submit-separation from his first spouse, he has been in a relationship with Bulbul Saha. Reportedly, Arun took consent from his first spouse and bought engaged to Bulbul in 2022.

Arun Lal together with his ex-wife Reena and Bulbul Saha
The newfound couple’s marriage ceremony invite additionally bought viral on social media. In line with the Invitation card, the marriage will happen on Could 2 on the Peerless Inn, Esplanade, Kolkata.

Arun and Bulbul’s marriage ceremony invite
Different Family members
Arun Lal’s uncle, Dhir Muni Lal, was a right-hand opening batsman who performed for Southern Punjab and Northern India within the Nineteen Thirties. Arun’s cousin, Akash Lal, was additionally a gap batsman, who performed for Delhi and Punjab within the Indian home cricket within the Nineteen Sixties.
Profession
Worldwide cricket
In 1982, he made his ODI debut on 27 January in opposition to England at Cuttack. In the identical 12 months, he made his Check debut in opposition to Sri Lanka at Madras with 63, and he shared a partnership of 156 with Sunil Gavaskar. In his second take a look at look, he scored 51 in opposition to Pakistan and once more shared a partnership with Sunil Gavaskar for greater than 100; nonetheless, he was dropped after he may solely handle a mixed complete of 49 in his subsequent 4 innings. He performed a complete of 16 Check innings from 1982 to 1989, scoring 729 runs at a mean of 26.03. His highest take a look at rating is 93, which he made in opposition to West Indies at Calcutta in 1987. He made six Check fifties beneath his title together with one on debut in opposition to Sri Lanka in 1982 and two in opposition to Pakistan in the identical match at Eden Gardens in 1987. He made 13 ODI appearances and his ODI common stands at 9.36. He performed his last take a look at and ODI matches for India on the tour of the West Indies in 1988-89.
Home cricket
On the Indian home stage, he represented each the Bengal cricket workforce and the Delhi cricket workforce. After attempting to show his mettle in Delhi for six years, he determined to maneuver to Bengal. He joined the Bengal cricket workforce in 1981. His unbeaten half-century within the 1989-90 Ranji Trophy last led Bengal to win its first Ranji Trophy after 51 years in 1989. He additionally performed an instrumental position in East Zone’s victories within the Duleep and the Deodhar Trophy. He performed first-class cricket till 1995 and aggregated greater than 10,000 runs in 156 first-class matches with a prime rating of 287 and a batting common of 46.94. He introduced his retirement from aggressive cricket in 2001. His final membership match was for East Bengal. On the time of retirement, he ranked fifth within the listing of gamers with essentially the most profession runs in Ranji historical past, with 6760 runs averaging 53.23. In an interview, he mentioned that he was compelled to stop due to his bodily shortcomings. He mentioned,
It might appear unusual, however this 12 months, I had issues after taking part in membership matches within the sizzling and humid summer season. That’s the reason I made a decision to stop after the official finish of the season right this moment.”
He added,
Even final 12 months throughout the identical interval I had scored 100. Nevertheless, I didn’t really feel as drained as I’ve been feeling this 12 months. The restoration issue is taking too lengthy a time. This has compelled me to take the choice to stop.”
He then turned the chief coach of the East Zone department of the Nationwide Cricket Academy and the pinnacle coach of the Bengal cricket workforce. In 2017, his former teammate Sourav Ganguly known as him. In line with Lal, he thought it was a courtesy name from a detailed buddy but it surely turned out to be a proposal to mentor the State senior workforce from the then Cricket Affiliation of Bengal’s president.

Arun Lal (third from the left) because the coach of the Bengal cricket workforce
His strategies of rigorous coaching of the younger lads of Bengal have been criticized at first; nonetheless, beneath his steerage, Bengal reached the finals of India’s premier home competitors, Ranji Trophy, in 2020 after a large hole of 13 years. Talking about his steerage for the Bengal gamers in an interview, he mentioned,
Workforce is paramount and all the pieces else is secondary. First you carry your workforce spirit after which comes your ability, expertise, psychological skill all the pieces.”
In an interview, upon being requested about his journey from Ranji profitable workforce to a supervisor of Ranji finalist workforce, he replied,
I can’t let you know how emotional this journey is for me. I’m like a father now. If a son does nicely it’s even happier for the daddy than what he personally did. So, it is going to be a lot larger achievement for me if this workforce can win the Ranji Trophy in comparison with my win as a participant. I worth this journey of mine far more than my journey that season as a participant.”
In line with Arun, the worldwide gamers should proceed to play home cricket as nicely. In an interview, he said,
Crucial event on this nation is Ranji Trophy and never IPL”

Arun Lal unveils the IPL trophy in Kolkata on 5 April 2018
Arun Lal did commentary after he retired from cricket. He additionally writes columns on cricket.

Arun Lal doing commentary
Controversies
- Lal selected a strict method to carry self-discipline to the Bengal workforce beneath his teaching. He skilled the gamers beneath all of the circumstances together with the scorching warmth of the summers and the rains. His rigorous method was closely criticized and a few media homes questioned whether or not the Bengal cricketers can be competing within the Olympics. In an interview, Arun defended his means of teaching and mentioned,
After I made these boys run for 25 rounds, there was numerous criticism.”
- After the Covid-19 outbreak, the BCCI’s Normal Working Process (SOP) for state associations barred 60-plus people from collaborating within the coaching camp owing to their vulnerability to getting contaminated by the virus. Lal took a agency stand in opposition to the SOP and cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s instance as to how he at his age is operating the nation. In an interview, he mentioned,
The Prime Minister is 69 and he’s operating the nation in these occasions. Are they telling him to step down?”
He added,
Me as an individual, whether or not I coach Bengal or not is immaterial however I’ll reside my life. Don’t anticipate me that I’m 65 years previous, so I’ll lock myself in a room for the subsequent 30 years. This doesn’t occur like this,”
Awards, Honours, Achievements
Arun Lal was conferred with the Lifetime Achievement award by the Cricket Affiliation of Bengal (CAB) on 3 August 2019.
Most cancers Prognosis
In January 2016, Lal was identified with adenoid cystic carcinoma, which is a sort of jaw most cancers. He underwent intensive therapy, together with a 14-hour surgical procedure and alternative of his jaw. In an interview, he briefly defined his expertise and mentioned,
It took me a 12 months to get out of it as a result of my total jaw needed to be recreated in any other case I wouldn’t have had a face. From my leg, they reduce out one of many bones (fibula) they usually actually made a brand new jaw. I used to be on crutches due to the (reduce within the) leg and I couldn’t transfer my proper arm due to all of the nerves that had been reduce by means of my neck. It was a harrowing expertise”
He recovered from most cancers efficiently. In an interview, upon being requested about his battle with most cancers and the way it modified his perspective of life, he mentioned,
On a regular basis is a studying for human being. You aren’t the identical particular person right this moment in comparison with yesterday. When this type of factor occurs you undoubtedly undergo modifications. It’s a must to undergo an ordeal, you might be stronger now, you see life in another way. I believe I’m a lot stronger each mentally and bodily. I’m very content material with myself and so long as God is with me, I’ve no criticism.”
Favourites
- Commentators: Ian Chappell, Sunny [Gavaskar], Ravi [Shastri], Sanjay [Manjrekar], Rameez [Raja], Tony Greig
Details/Trivia
- Arun Lal is also referred to as Piggy by his shut pals.
- In 1979, he moved to Calcutta from Delhi and began the Bournvita Cricket Academy, which is without doubt one of the prime cricket teaching academies in Kolkata.
- He represented Bengal within the Doordarshan nationwide integration tune, “Mile Sur Mera Tumara”.
- He has been an ardent promoter of wildlife conservation over time.
- Somewhat-known reality about Arun Lal is that he’s a bird-watcher by ardour and has labored to save lots of the migratory birds at Santragachi in Howrah.
- In an interview, he talked about that he has planted greater than 4,000 bushes. He mentioned,
My main ardour is planting bushes. Then cricket.”
- Reportedly, Arun Lal supported varied underprivileged kids by financing their schooling and turning into a father determine to them. These kids grew as much as change into profitable people. Bikash, who was a washerman’s son, is now the pinnacle of treasury at JSW Metal, Dr. Anup Sarkar is an excellent specialty gastroenterologist on the PG Hospital in Kolkata, Ashwini is a health care provider at AIIMS in Delhi, and Sanjit is an IT skilled in Sweden.
- Reportedly, Arun performed an important position in convincing the selectors to pick Ganguly for the Ranji last in 1990. In an interview, Lal revealed,
I had watched Sourav develop from the very starting. I backed him from his early days. In truth, I used to be among the many ones who had pushed for his inclusion within the last when the selectors have been sceptical about selecting him.”