Watch rare footage of Arun Lal batting against Malcolm Marshall in 1989
The former Indian batsman and commentator was much admired for his grit and resilience.
From Sourav Ganguly to VVS Laxman to Harbhajan Singh, the who's who of Indian cricket all united in a wave of sympathy for former Indian cricketer and television commentator Arun Lal when the news emerged that he was recovering from jaw cancer. And it was not surprising – Lal may have only played 16 Tests for India in the 1980s, but his grit and resilience made "Piggy" (as he is popularly known) a favourite of anyone who played with him.
Lal's career in international colours can perhaps be summed up by the video above. In 1989 against West Indies at Jamaica, he was facing a tearaway Malcolm Marshall. He gracefully steered the first ball he faced through the gap between the slips, getting a stylish boundary.
Unfortunately, his technical deficiencies surfaced a few deliveries later. Marshall pitched it short and Lal was caught in no-man's land, fending away to scoop a dolly of a catch to Viv Richards.
However, it would be important to remember that Lal was one of the most prolific scorers in the domestic circuit and was instrumental in taking Bengal to a Ranji Trophy title in 1989 after 51 long years. Bengal have still not managed to win the Ranji Trophy since.
