Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar recently opened up about some of the sport’s most iconic and controversial moments during a candid conversation on the *Mid Wicket Tales* YouTube channel. Joined by former Australian captain Allan Border and hosted by ex-umpire Simon Taufel, Gavaskar recounted incidents that defined his three-decade career, blending humor, drama, and unforgettable insights.
One of the most talked-about stories was the infamous 1981 Melbourne walkoff during India’s tour of Australia. Gavaskar revealed that wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani, unintentionally, played a pivotal role in the dramatic exit. After being given out LBW to Dennis Lillee, Gavaskar was provoked by abusive remarks from Australian players, leading him to signal teammate Chetan Chauhan to leave the field with him. The trigger, Gavaskar explained, was a single word Kirmani had used the day before during a stumping appeal against Border. Kirmani had threatened to walk off if the appeal was turned down, declaring, *“It’s not about a decision… If this is given not out, my integrity is questioned.”* The appeal was upheld, but Kirmani’s words lingered in Gavaskar’s mind. *“That bloody word ‘walkoff’ stuck in my head,”* he admitted. Border, who was batting that day, later admitted the LBW decision against Gavaskar was debatable, calling it *“a bit of a dodgy decision.”*
The conversation also revisited Gavaskar’s fiery exchange with umpire Shakoor Rana during India’s tour of Pakistan. The dispute arose when Moin-ul-Haq, a Pakistani bowler, was warned for running on the danger area in the second innings, while Pakistani bowlers went unpunished for the same offence. When Gavaskar confronted Rana, the umpire snapped back, *“You don’t tell me what to do.”* Gavaskar retaliated in Hindi, mimicking Sarfraz Nawaz’s Punjabi pronunciation of Ben Stokes—a comment that infuriated Rana. The following morning, Rana refused to take the field unless Gavaskar apologized, delaying the match by five to seven minutes. Gavaskar stood his ground, telling his manager, *“I will apologize only if Sarfraz is also pulled up.”* He argued, *“What Sarfraz was saying to me, you put your hand on your mouth and laugh. If he didn’t find that objectionable, why is he finding what I said objectionable?”*
Gavaskar also shared a lighter yet painful memory—his broken cheekbone during a Test match. While fielding at forward short leg, a sweep shot struck him flush on the face, causing profuse bleeding. Stretchered off in an ambulance, he was assigned a minder, P Krishna Murthy, tasked with keeping him awake to prevent a coma. *“Every time I closed my eyes, he would shake me—Sunny! Sunny! Sunny!”* Gavaskar recalled with a mix of frustration and humor. *“I was in pain, in the ambulance, and I wanted to hammer him and give him a cheekbone fracture myself.”* He also referenced Ian Botham’s later injury at silly point, noting Botham’s claim that Yashpal Sharma’s actions aggravated the fracture.
Border, who was present during several of these incidents, contributed his own recollections, including a tense moment in the 1986 Chennai Test, where he was threatened with dismissal for swearing at an umpire over a slow over rate. *“I said, ‘You just worry about your umpiring and let me worry about how this game is going to end up,’”* Border recounted. He turned to vice-captain David Boon, asking, *“He can’t send me off, can he?”* Boon’s response—*“Bugger if I know”*—added to the moment’s absurdity.
The discussion also highlighted a narrow escape in the 1987 World Cup, where Australia won by just one run against India. Border revealed that manager Alan Crompton approached match referee Hanumant Singh after a six by Dean Jones was incorrectly signaled as a four in the final over, reducing Australia’s total from 272 to 274. India’s chase ended at 273, meaning the incorrect signal cost them the match. *“If it wasn’t for Alan Crompton going up to see Hanumant Singh, India win that first game,”* Border said. *“Who knows where Australia would have finished having lost the first game by such a small margin.”*
The conversation took a nostalgic turn when Gavaskar recalled Sir Don Bradman’s warm welcome in 1971 when Gavaskar was part of the Rest of the World team in Australia. Bradman, who had handpicked the squad after South Africa’s tour was canceled, greeted Gavaskar with a unique compliment. *“He said—‘That’s a Mumbai Bradman, that’s a Karachi Bradman. And that’s a real Bradman,’”* Gavaskar shared, visibly moved. The segment concluded with a lighthearted anecdote about a rain delay in Manchester, where Gavaskar, knowing his career was nearing its end, quipped to Border, *“I was there in spirit. Didn’t you feel a presence next to you?”*
When asked about their favorite umpire, both Gavaskar and Border named Dickie Bird, praising his ability to manage players and his rare mistakes in the pre-DRS era. Gavaskar even joked about Bird trimming his hair on the field using an umpire’s scissors, *“as long as you don’t give me out.”*
