How Sunil Gavaskar helped Kapil Dev counter fatigue
It is a perceived notion that Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were not on best of terms during their playing days. There was a time in the 1980s when there was a musical chair scenario for India's captaincy.
It is a perceived notion that Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev were not on best of terms during their playing days. There was a time in the 1980s when there was a musical chair scenario for India’s captaincy. Two of India’s finest cricketers were not cordial with each other. Gavaskar dropping Kapil for his lack of discipline even did not go well with the fans. However, the two have blamed the press for blowing their misunderstandings out of proportion. Both of them share mutual respect and remain cordial whenever they meet in public. From the sidelines of India’s 500th Test, both came in the support of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and questioned some of the recommendations of Lodha Panel.
Both the former India captains were felicitated ahead of India’s 500th Test at Kanpur. Kapil and Gavaskar are both part of Star Sports’ commentary team for the India-New Zealand Test series. We have heard a lot of stories about cold war between these two stalwarts but for a change let us discuss their camaraderie. During one of the Hindi commentary sessions with Zaheer Khan, Gavaskar narrated an interesting tactic on how he helped his premier bowler Kapil from getting tired.
Former pacer Zaheer begun the discussion with his tactic. Conditions in India can be tough on cricketers, especially fast bowlers, who run in and bend their back, bowling all day. To make it worse, the spinners at other end finish their overs in two minutes and the fast bowler is back in action without adequate rest. Zaheer said, “I took time and walked back very slowly to my fielding position to buy extra time for rest.”
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Time wasting is a serious offense and it might earn you umpire’s ire. Gavaskar then narrated his tactic. When he led the national side, he usually fielded at mid-on. After couple of balls, he used run to Kapil and said him, “There is nothing to discuss. I am just here to give you time so that you get a short break.”
They just stood and spoke about random things to ensure the bowler was fresh enough. What about the umpire? Gavaskar adds, “Umpire had no problem. A captain can always go and discuss strategy with bowlers.”
This is why we call it a team game. Kapil, who at one point of time was world cricket’s most successful bowler, remains India’s best pacer ever. But all these small incidents have indeed contributed in his success.
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