Arun Lal was an Indian right-handed opening batsman in the country’s first-class games. Arun had a reputation for being gritty in love of play, and he excelled on the domestic and international stages. Eventually, he became a successful cricket commentator as well as a coach. By his second marriage at age 66, he regained public attention.
Arun Lal Biography
Arun Lal joined the cricket team of India in the 1980s. He was born on 1st August 1955 in He is liked apart from his performance on the field for his powerful commentary and strong personality. Although, he retired as a cricket player, he helped the sport as a coach and was rewarded for it.
Profile Table
| Full Name | Jagdishlal Arun Lal |
| Nickname | Piggy |
| Date of Birth | 1 August 1955 (Monday) |
| Age (As of 2025) | 70 Years |
| Birthplace | Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Profession | Former Cricketer, Coach, Commentator |
| Education | Graduation in Economics (St. Stephen’s) |
| Food Habit | Non-Vegetarian |
| Hobbies | Birdwatching, Planting Trees |
Age
Arun Lal, born on 1st August 1955, is currently 70 years old (as of 2023). Being born in August, his zodiac sign is Leo, which is often associated with leadership, passion, and strong personality—traits that resonate with his cricketing and coaching career.
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Birth | 1 August 1955 |
| Age (as of 2025) | 70 Years |
| Zodiac Sign | Leo |
Physical Appearance
Arun Lal has a strong and confident appearance, suitable for his commanding role both on and off the field.
Physical Stats Table
| Height | 175 cm / 1.75 m / 5’9” |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Salt & Pepper |
Early life and Family
Arun Lal is from a cricketing family. This was his first marriage with Reena and then to his Bulbul Saha. As to Reena, whose chronic illness cripples her first marriage from Arun.
Family Table
Here are the name of the family members of Arun Lal mentioned in the below table.
| Relationship | Name |
| Father | Dhir Jagdish Lal (Cricketer) |
| Mother | Name Not Known (died in 2021) |
| Uncle | Dhir Muni Lal (Cricketer) |
| Cousin | Akash Lal (Cricketer) |
| First Wife | Reena |
| Second Wife | Bulbul Saha |
About His Second Wife-Bulbul Saha
Bulbul Saha is the second wife of Arun Lal, and she is 28 years younger than her. This age gap between them was one reason to bring her into the spotlight. Just like Arun Lal, she also belongs to Kolkata and lives there with him. By profession, she is a teacher and currently teaching at St. Paul’s Mission School. Their wedding was an intimate ceremony which was happened in their hometown, Kolkata only. Their marriage Date (Second) was 2 May 2022.
Cricket Career
Arun Lal had represented India in Test and ODIs. In the 1980s, he was an opener for India and he stood out as a determined man. Additionally, he played a successful domestic career with Bengal and Delhi.
Cricket Career Table
| Format | Debut Match | Last Match |
| ODI | India vs England – 27 Jan 1982, Cuttack | India vs West Indies – 21 Mar 1989, Georgetown |
| Test | India vs Sri Lanka – 17-22 Sept 1982, Chennai | India vs West Indies – 28 Apr–3 May 1989, Kingston |
| Domestic Teams | Delhi, Bengal | – |
| Batting Style | Right-Hand Bat | – |
| Bowling Style | Right-Arm Medium | – |
Coaching Career & Awards
Arun Lal took the role of commentary and then coaching after retirement. He who coached the Bengal Ranji team and was appreciated for training them to be more fit and disciplined.
Awards Table
| Award | Year | Presented By |
| Lifetime Achievement Award | 3 August 2019 | Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) |
Tough Love: Arun’s style was tough love, and during the toughest of weather, Arun did not shy away from training Bengal players with strict discipline.
About Arun Lal Academy
This is the cricket academy which is located in Kolkata, West Bengal. As the name suggest the academy is owned and runs by Arun Lal. The academy is also known as Bournvita Cricket Academy, which was opened in 1996, and it is one of the most popular academy of cricket academies in India. The academy caters for students from the age group of 6 to 20 years. The academy is known to teach cricket in affordable price which can be easily afford by anyone who wanted to learn this sports and make their career in it. The coaches of this academy includes name like Arun Lal and Gopal Bose.
Movies and TV Shows
It is cricket which predominantly is Arun Lal’s domain and hence he has not appeared in films or TV shows. However, he has come back to aid as a guest and cricket specialist on different news and sports shows.
Movies & Shows Table
| Year | Title | Role |
| Various | Star Sports, DD Sports, etc. | Guest Expert/Commentator |
Interesting Facts About Arun Lal
- Piggy was the nickname of Arun Lal in school days.
- After his separation, even if he was separated, he took care of his first wife who was ill and lived with her.
- After beating cancer, he returned stronger to continue coaching and commenting.
- Birdwatching and planting trees are some of the things wich Arun is passionate about.
- At the age of 66, he came into the limelight when he married Bulbul Saha in the year 2022.
Social Media Profiles
Arun Lal, it seems, is not much on social media platforms. As always, news of him often trends on Twitter and Instagram after being in a public event such as his second marriage.
Social Media Table
| Platform | Profile Name | Username/ID | Followers |
| Not Officially Present | – | – | |
| Not Officially Present | – | – | |
| Not Officially Present | – | – |
Net Worth
Cricket, commentary, coaching and television appearances have earned Arun Lal money. According to some sources, the net worth of Ishant is about ₹10 crore (approx), including his properties, coaching contracts and the commentary earnings.
Net Worth Table
| Income Source | Estimated Earnings |
| Cricket (past) | ₹1–2 crore |
| Commentary | ₹3–4 crore |
| Coaching (Bengal, etc.) | ₹2–3 crore |
| Others (Guest Appearances, Talks) | ₹1 crore |
| Total | Approx ₹10 crore |
Controversies
In numerous matters such as his kicking approach, and his attitude during BCCI’s ongoing SOP on COVID-19, Arun Lal has been constantly in the headlines. In 2020, the name Arun Lal flashed into news for fighting BCCI’s choice of barring age 60 up coaches from practically as the danger of COVID rode high. The Prime Minister didn’t work until 87, he said, so age shouldn’t be a determiner of capability.
Controversy Table
| Year | Issue | Description |
| 2020 | Harsh Training Methods | Criticized for making Bengal players train in harsh conditions during heat and rain |
| 2020 | Stand Against BCCI SOP | Opposed the SOP barring 60+ people from coaching during COVID-19, called it age discrimination |
Conclusion
Arun Lal’s career which started with the cricket pitch, was then the commentary box and ended up as a coach shows his biggest spirit. Remembered for neither his runs nor the strength he showed in his personal life, overcoming cancer, supporting his sick ex wife, and marrying again when 60 something was old. He is an inspiration for Indian cricket with his way of showing resilience and the love for game in him.
FAQs
1. Who is Arun Lal?
Arun Lal is a former right-handed Indian opening batsman described commentator and coach best known during the 1980s.
2. When was Arun Lal married for the second time?
Bulbul Saha was his wife and he was married to her on 2 May 2022.
3. What was Arun Lal’s role in cricket?
He was also a right-handed batsman, after which he became a coach and commentator.
4. What is Arun Lal’s age?
Arun Lal is 68 years old as of 2023.
5. What awards does Arun Lal have to his name?
Yes, he was awarded the Cricket Association of Bengal’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
