Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India captain and legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar has been involved in quite a few controversies in his glittering career. But the one that strikes every cricket lovers mind was his alleged involvement in getting Kapil Dev axed for the Eden Gardens test match against England in 1984.
It was reported that Gavaskar who was the captain of the Indian team then was behind the dropping of Kapil as the later played a rash shot in the previous test match at Feroz Shah Kotla. The match was headed for a draw until that irresponsible shot from Kapil brought his downfall and with it also paved the way for an England victory.
Not only Kapil but Sandeep Patil too was reprimanded for playing rash shots in the Kotla test, which India lost. As a result, apparently the chairman of the board of selectors Chandu Borde and the-then skipper Sunil Gavaskar met for the team selection meeting and decided to drop the two legendary players for the Kolkata test.
Kapil allegedly accused Gavaskar for axing him and the latter denied the claims. Gavaskar stated that he reached late for the selection meeting and he had no role to play in the axing of the legend.
The Kolkata crowd were not happy about the fact that Kapil Dev was dropped and they even chanted – ‘No Kapil, No Test’. They even threw rotten vegetables and fruits at Gavaskar. The little master vowed that he would never play at the Eden Gardens after that incident.
After 37 years of that infamous incident, Gavaskar revealed the real story. In an interview Gavaskar revealed it was ‘a myth that has been spread’ for a long time.
“As far as Kapil Dev is concerned, this has been something a myth that has been spread for a long, long time. I did not propose dropping Kapil Dev. I was part of the selection committee as the Indian captain and as the Indian captain, I can join the selection committee I do not have a voting right. I’m just co-opted to the selection committee. The proposed action to drop Kapil there was proposed by somebody else, another selector,” Gavaskar told in a You Tube show.
“So, I have to only say one thing that I might be a lot of things I might be whatever, but I’m not stupid to drop my only match-winner. To propose dropping my only match-winner? How could I have even…. How can anybody even think that! Am I that stupid to think in terms of dropping my match-winner?” he questioned.
“We don’t know the story, but it is something because cricket is such a popular game in India, people like to spread stories like this. So, the thing about Kapil’s dropping is yes being part of the selection committee, collective responsibility. Yes, that way I am also to be blamed but I did not propose dropping couple of days for the next Test,” said Gavaskar