As a youngster with an interest in cricket, two names had captured my imagination ? Sunil Manohar Gavaskar and Kapil Dev. In fact, it is just to suggest that the player who fundamentally transformed Indian cricket was Sunil Gavaskar ? ?a small man who stood tall against the meanest bullies of world cricket?. As Sambit Bal has beautifully written, ?Gavaskar became independent India?s first sporting superhero. Even though his record is awesome, his value to India can never be measured in statistical terms. He brought Indian cricket pride, respect and self belief. India may one day produce a better opening batsman than him, but as an agent of change, Gavaskar?s place is unique.?
Ably supported by GR Vishwanath, Gavaskar spearheaded the Indian batting challenge for the most of the 1980s. As captain, he was able to lead Indian cricket to dizzying heights because he had Kapil Dev as his bowling spearhead from the end of the 1970s. Kapil and Gavaskar led India to its two greatest triumphs, to a World Cup win in 1983, and victory in the World Championship of Cricket in 1985.
Interestingly, both legends today stand isolated in the Indian cricket world. While Kapil?s name is anathema to the functionaries of the BCCI because he spearheads the rebel Indian Cricket League, Gavaskar too has been let down by the BCCI in the recently concluded ICC meeting at Dubai. With the ICC trying to oust Gavaskar from the position as Chairman of the Cricket Committee for speaking out on Harbhajan Singh?s behalf in Australia, the very least our board could have done is oppose such a move. And with its financial clout, it would certainly have been able to rally support for Gavaskar from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This was essential because the Board had done exactly what Gavaskat had said and written ? object against the unjust treatment meted out to Harbhajan by match referee Mike Procter. In fact, that Gavaskar had said what he did in commentary and had written what he has did much to strengthen Harbhajan?s case and capture the imagination of the cricket world. His voice and pen, had, without a shade of doubt, served India?s national interest. For having served the nation, he now stands sacrificed.
With India winning for itself the position of Principal Advisor of the ICC and with BCCI President Sharad Pawar all set to become ICC supremo in a couple of years, one wonders what else we need to defend our legends from being humiliated. Add to this India?s unprecedented financial clout and the puzzle turns into complete bewilderment. Or is it in our very nature to humiliate and insult our biggest legends? Not calling Kapil Dev to Anil Kumble?s felicitation in Chennai, for example, is a wrong the BCCI can never remove from its history. What it can do, however, is speak up for Gavaskar and call Kapil Dev to the function that is all set to be organised in June to commemorate the 25th anniversary of India?s Prudential cup triumph.
Sunil Gavaskar has already booked the Lords long room to remember the momentous occasion and has already issued invites to his teammates. If media reports are to be believed, Kapil Dev is all set to come to Lords at Gavaskar?s invitation. If the two of them decide to come together, one thing is certain ?the BCCI will find a billion cricket fans aligned against them. There?s still time to ensure this does not happen by speaking up for our biggest cricketing legends.
(Sports historian Boria Majumdar is senior research fellow at La Trobe University in Melbourne)