The word ‘cricket’ is enough to drive people crazy in India! Cricket is not just a game, it’s a rage here! And who wouldn’t like to know some gossip about our beloved cricketers?
1. “Penchana sir? Main MS Dhoni!.”
In 2009, when India was about to become world No. 1 Test side and match against Sri Lanka was the only hurdle.
At the cricket club of India aka Brabourne stadium, MS dhoni saw his railways coach sitting near the club area. The captain rushed towards him and said- “Sir mai Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Pehchana aapne? Mai theek khel raha hun na? Meri cricket me koi problem toh nahi hai?”
The coach embarrassed, said “I wanted you in the team but selectors didn’t. I didn’t do anything.”
Dhoni represented Indian railways in Ranji trophy. He played excellently in annual inter railways tournament but, despite being a performer he was overlooked for the main side. Unable to digest this, when he saw his coach, he said those sarcastic words.
2. ‘Hook maar na?’
This happened in a match against Pakistan. Shoaib was out of tricks against Sehwag, so he tried to distract him.
Shoaib (after every ball) – “Hook maar na!”
Sehwag (frustated)- “Yeh bowling kar rha hai ya bheekh maang rha hai?”
Pakistani fielders started laughing!
Still, Shoaib didn’t stop saying-‘Hook maar ke dikha’.
To which Sehwag said, “woh tera baap khada hai non-striker end par. Usko bol woh maar ke dikhaega”
And guess who was at the non-striker end? Sachin Tendulkar!!
Later, shoaib delivered same bouncer to Sachin, to which he hit a six. Sehwag later came up to Shoaib and said- “Beta beta hota hai aur baap baap”
3. Sachin’s bat!
In 1996, Shahid Afridi was to play a match but, didn’t have a proper bat. That’s when Waqar Younis gave Afridi Sachin’s bat. Afridi hit 11 sixes, six boundaries and scored 37-ball century against Sri Lanka. This was then fastest ODI century!
4. The 11 coincidence!
During test match of South Africa and Australia in Cape Town, on the morning of 11/11/11 South Africa needed 111 runs to win at 11:11!
5. Sachin for Pakistan!?
Our very own Sachin Tendulkar who is India’s pride once played for Pakistan. This happened during practice match between India and Pakistan at the Brabourne stadium in 1987 where Sachin had to come on the field as a substitute fielder for Pakistan.
Source
6. The wall is here
A wall made up of 10,000 bricks was made to celebrate 10,000 runs of Rahul Dravid. This was made near the main entrance of M Chinnaswamy stadium and was unveiled by Sachin Tendulkar! It had a small electronic unit near the right hand top corner which displayed Rahul Dravid’s test runs. The last reading came to be- 13,288!!
7. “Chal bahar chal”
Few years ago Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar revealed how during a tournament in Sharjah in 1987, the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim came into the Indian cricket team’s dressing room and told the cricketers that if they manage to defeat Pakistan each one of them will be rewarded a car from the gangster. Hearing this Kapil Dev kicked him out of the room saying “chal bahar chal!”
8. April Fool!
One day Sourav Ganguly entered the dressing room and faced unexpected hostility from his team mates due to some comments he made about the team to a newspaper. He was stunned and saddened and pleaded that they were lies, he never said such things to any newspaper! Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra stormed out of the dressing room angrily, no body believed him. Dada was left teary eyed; that’s when Dravid confronted Dada saying it was only april fool’s prank! “Dada picked up the bat and chased all of us out the dressing room” said Yuvraj.
9. Kohli’s first day!
Looks like pranking is a ritual in Indian cricket team! It was Virat Kohli’s first day in the dressing room where he was sitting quietly, minding his own business. That’s when a few fellow team mates came and told him that every new cricketer has to touch Tendulkar’s feet on the first day and seek his blessings. He went and touched Tendulkar’s feet, to which Sachin asked if he wanted something. Kohli replied, to which Sachin laughed and said that he has been pranked!
10. The greatest fan!
Sudhir Kumar Chaudhary isn’t an unfamiliar face to cricket lovers! He is said to be master blaster’s greatest fan. He grabbed Sachin’s attention. Sachin himself invited him to the dressing room and clicked pictures with the trophy! Lucky!
