After his statue was revealed at the opening of the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, legendary Sunil Gavaskar said he was speechless and overwhelmed.
Alongside former BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar, the former captain’s statue was unveiled. The museum will open to the public on September 22.
“I’m actually at a loss for words because I’m overwhelmed by this unique honour. It doesn’t happen to everybody that there is a statue just outside the museum where there is going to be so much more footfall,” Gavaskar told the media.
“The Mumbai Cricket Association, I’ve said in the past, is like my mother, (it) held my hand when I was beginning with cricket at the school’s level, playing for Bombay schools.
“Thereafter as well, for Ranji Trophy etc. It’s been absolutely just a privilege and an honour and a blessing to be able to play for Mumbai and I never ever dreamt that it would come to this.”
In the Ahmedabad Test against Pakistan in March 1987, Gavaskar became the first player in Test cricket to score 10,000 runs, a feat commemorated by his statue.
“It took me back to that particular time when that ball was bowled and I got to the 10,000th run so yes, it brought back very good memories,” Gavaskar said when asked about the statue.
“This is an honour for all those with whom I played cricket in my Bhagirathi (Bai) building (during childhood in Mumbai’s Tardeo), then at the school level, at the club (level), in the Ranji Trophy team and in Test cricket,” he said during his speech.
“Had I not played cricket with them all, today, this statue won’t have been possible. I would not have reached here without the support I got from so many players in the dressing room.”
MCA president Ajinkya Naik said, “I asked him which are his favourite moments in Indian cricket. He shared few pictures with me. I think this was the best moment for him as well as for Mumbai and Indian cricket.”
Two of Gavaskar’s caps—one of Mumbai and the other of Dadar Union Sports Club—will be on display at the museum.
“Dadar Union taught me so much about the fact that the game is bigger than the individual, (and) that, you do not take the game for granted, (and) that you have to keep on giving back to the game,” he said.
“But that cap was worn on the day we (India) beat Australia in 1981 (by 59 runs in third Test on 1980-81 tour) when Kapil (Dev) came in at Melbourne and took five wickets (5/28). He was unwell the previous day. He took painkilling injections and he came on to bowl.”
“It was a touch and go situation — I am superstitious, as you probably know from now — I had my Dadar Union cap, which was lucky. That is the reason I wore that cap that day — not the India cap — because they had to score some 60-80 runs and then they had lost three wickets,” he said.
Gavaskar recalled sharing similar moments with batsman Cheteshwar Pujara during the recent England tour, when an inexperienced team battled valiantly to secure a 2-2 draw. He claimed he still gets emotional over the highs and lows of Indian cricket.
“Look, every time India win, it’s an emotional time,” he said.
“I’ve stopped playing cricket for over 40 years. But I was discussing with Cheteshwar in one of the last days of The Oval Game, that I think it is very difficult to get detached from the team.
“You might not be in that changing room, but your heart is in that changing room. Your feelings are in that changing room. And the emotion comes out every time India wins. Also, when India don’t do well.”
Gavaskar remarked that although MCA has served as a “beacon” for other associations across the nation, he was pleased that Indian cricket was gaining from it all.
“Mumbai cricket has always been the beacon for the other associations,” he said.
“Many things that Mumbai does have been followed by other associations and (they are) trying to get to the standard that Mumbai has.”
“The standard has levelled up considerably which is fantastic news for Indian cricket. But still, Mumbai keeps on winning, keeps on getting to the semifinals and final as well,” he added.
