Girja Shankar Dixit
Mohammad Nissar, born on August 1, 1910, in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, British India, stands as a towering figure in the early history of Indian cricket. Revered as India’s first genuine fast bowler and arguably the fastest the subcontinent has ever produced, Nissar’s fiery pace and imposing physique left an indelible mark on the game during the pre-independence era. Standing tall at six feet with a powerful build, he was described by contemporaries as a “black locomotive” charging in to bowl, an image that perfectly captured his intimidating presence on the field.
Nissar burst onto the cricketing scene with raw pace and aggression, quickly establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with. His talent was undeniable, leading to his selection for the All-India team that embarked on its maiden Test tour to England in 1932. This tour etched Nissar’s name in the history books.
In India’s inaugural Test match at Lord’s, he achieved the remarkable feat of bowling the first ball for the subcontinent in Test cricket and also claiming the first-ever Test wicket for India by dismissing Herbert Sutcliffe. He further rattled the English top order by also taking the wicket of Percy Holmes in the same over, announcing his arrival on the international stage in emphatic fashion by taking a five-wicket haul (5 for 93) in the first innings.
The legendary Indian all-rounder CK Nayudu, who captained India in that historic match, famously remarked that during his opening spell, Nissar was faster than the formidable English fast bowler Harold Larwood, who had terrorized the Australian batsmen with his ‘Bodyline’ tactics. Nissar formed a formidable fast bowling partnership with Amar Singh, and together they were considered one of the most potent pace duos in the world during the 1930s.
Nissar’s Test career was brief, spanning just six matches in which he picked up 25 wickets at an average of 28.28. However, statistics alone do not fully reflect his impact. It was his sheer pace and the fear he instilled in batsmen that made him such a significant figure. He had a knack for bowling straight and attacking the stumps, leading to a high proportion of his wickets being either bowled or leg-before-wicket, a testament to his speed and accuracy. Notably, he achieved the rare distinction of taking a five-wicket haul in both his first and last Test matches.
Beyond his Test appearances, Nissar’s first-class record was impressive, with 396 wickets in 93 matches. He continued to perform strongly in domestic cricket, including a notable performance for Southern Punjab in the Ranji Trophy final of 1938-39, where he took 17 wickets.
Tragically, Nissar’s international career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. Following the partition of India in 1947, Nissar, a prominent pro-Pakistan figure, migrated to Lahore, where he played a role in the early development of cricket in the newly formed nation and even served as the chief selector for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
He passed away in Lahore on March 11, 1963, at the age of 52.
Despite his relatively short international career and subsequent move to Pakistan, Mohammad Nissar remains an iconic figure in Indian cricket history. He was the trailblazer who demonstrated that India could produce world-class fast bowlers, inspiring generations to follow.
His name is still fondly remembered, and the annual first-class cricket competition between the winners of the Ranji Trophy (India) and the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy (Pakistan) was named the Mohammad Nissar Trophy in his honor, a fitting tribute to a true pioneer of the game.
