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Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman refused to go topless after Natwest 2002 win, says Rajiv Shukla

The trio did not follow Sourav Ganguly's footsteps in taking their shirt off after India's historic win.

user-circle cricketcountry.com Written by Press Trust of India
Published: Feb 02, 2015, 09:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 02, 2015, 10:01 PM (IST)

The victorious Indian team after winning the Natwest Trophy in 2002 © Getty Images
The victorious Indian team after winning the Natwest Trophy in 2002. Standing amongst the ‘Men-in-Blue’ are Sachin Tendulkar (2nd from left), Rahul Dravid (third from left) and VVS Laxman (fourth from right) © Getty Images

New Delhi: He was the manager of the Indian cricket team during its memorable Natwest Trophy triumph over England at Lord’s way back in 2002 and Rajiv Shukla today revealed that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman refused then skipper Sourav Ganguly‘s request of taking off their shirts and wave it.

Shukla, who was sitting by Ganguly’s side at the Lord’s balcony, today recollected that evening’s incident.

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“I remember Sourav wanted to give it back to Andrew Flintoff, who had taken off his jersey and waved at the crowd in Mumbai. Actually Sourav wanted the whole team to take off their jerseys and wave it. But Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman all had politely declined Sourav’s request of doing the same,” Shukla regaled the audience with his anecdote at a ‘Cricket Conclave’ organised by a private channel.

His revelation came in the context of whether ‘Cricket remains a Gentleman’s Game’ after all these years. “It’s upto the individual to decide what he wants to do and what does gentleman’s game mean to him,” Shukla said.