For this edition of our Flashback Series, we’re dialing it all the way back to 1990 – to a film that blended the adrenaline of cricket, the tension of a thriller, and the charm of vintage Bollywood. Yes, we’re talking about ‘Awwal Number’, a cinematic cocktail brewed by none other than Dev Anand himself, who produced, directed, and starred in the film alongside a young Aamir Khan, Aditya Pancholi, Ekta Sohini, and Neeta Puri.
While Awwal Number may not have knocked it out of the park at the box office, it quietly gifted Indian cinema a musical unicorn — the song “Yeh Hai Cricket, Yeh Hai Cricket.” Sung by the trio of legends Amit Kumar, Bappi Lahiri, and Udit Narayan, this song is the only known Bollywood number entirely built around cricket jargon — from “cover drive” to “sixer,” it’s a melodic homage to the gentleman’s game. And guess what? Even 35 years later, the track still hits like a perfectly timed boundary.
The film itself was way ahead of its time. A sports drama wrapped inside a terror plot, it follows Sunny (Aamir Khan), a rising cricket star who replaces Ronny (Aditya Pancholi) in the Indian team. Fame fuels Ronny’s jealousy, just as an actual terrorist threat looms large over an India vs Australia match. Dev Anand, as DIG Vikram Singh, saves the day (and the stadium), while Sunny earns the nation’s love with a match-winning shot. The film gave cricket drama a desi thriller twist before it was cool.
What makes Awwal Number a rare gem isn’t just the cricket or the thriller—it’s the earnest attempt to merge Bollywood storytelling with the nation’s biggest passion: cricket. And in that fusion, “Yeh Hai Cricket” stands tall as a sonic time capsule. It’s campy, it’s catchy, and it’s oh-so-Bollywood — the kind of song you’ll find yourself humming long after the credits roll.
So here’s a standing ovation to Dev Anand’s cinematic googly that spun its way into our nostalgic hearts. And a loud cheer for “Yeh Hai Cricket” — the only track that could ever make fielding positions sound funky.
Check Out The Song:-