We Were Good Friends Back Then,We Are Good Friends Now: Gavaskar

KAPIL DEV AND GAVASKAR’S CONFLICT OF OPINION SINCE PLAYING DAYS

Indian cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev have always maintained a conflict of opinion since their playing days. There have been various instances and stories which have come up of moments when the two heroics of the game didn’t quite feel along the same lines, though they have high regards and respect for each other and are actually good pals.

WE SHARE A GOOD BOND: GAVASKAR

While talking about his relationship with Kapil Dev to India Today on the special occasion of Friendship Day, Sunil Gavaskar cleared the air for once and for all, “We are very good friends. We were good friends back then as well. Maybe the board wanted to divide us, maybe the media also wanted the same,”

He also shared an incidence from his playing days when he got angry on Kapil Dev and said, “But we were once involved in an angry exchange and that was in 1979 while playing against Pakistan. I was batting on 166 and then I played a shot towards backward point off Imran Khan. I wanted to take a single but Kapil Dev declined from the non-striker’s end and then I got out on the very next delivery,”

“So, I was very angry when I returned to the dressing room. Kapil would have played the bouncer better than me. If had we taken the single, our partnership would have grown. Tea break was taken 10-15 minutes after my dismissal and in the break, I yelled at him. As far as I remember, that’s the only instance of an angry exchange between two of us,” said Gavaskar.

KAPIL IS ONE OF INDIA’S GREATEST MATCH WINNER: GAVASKAR

Gavaskar was even seen describing Kapil Dev as one of India’s greatest match-winner ever.

He said, “For me, it was an absolute honour to have played in the same team (as Kapil). With due respect, I want to say this all those wonderful players who have won matches for India over the last years, there has been nobody who has turned around with bat and ball as Kapil Paaji has.”

“It has been hard work for him, it has not been easy. His enthusiasm is absolutely incredible. (It was) hard time for me as a captain to stop him.”