Legendary Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday mentioned he was at loss for phrases and overwhelmed after his statue was unveiled in the course of the inauguration of the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum right here on the Wankhede Stadium.
The statue of the previous captain was unveiled alongside former BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar, with the museum set to be opened for normal public on September 22.
“I’m truly puzzled as a result of I’m overwhelmed by this distinctive honour. It doesn’t occur to everyone that there’s a statue simply outdoors the museum the place there may be going to be a lot extra footfall,” Gavaskar instructed the media.
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“The Mumbai Cricket Affiliation, I’ve mentioned up to now, is like my mom, (it) held my hand once I was starting with cricket on the college’s degree, taking part in for Bombay faculties.
“Thereafter as effectively, for Ranji Trophy and many others. It’s been completely only a privilege and an honour and a blessing to have the ability to play for Mumbai and I by no means ever dreamt that it could come to this.” Gavaskar’s statute celebrates him changing into the first-ever participant in Check historical past to attain 10,000 runs, which he accomplished in the course of the Ahmedabad Check towards Pakistan in March 1987.
“It took me again to that exact time when that ball was bowled and I acquired to the ten,000th run so sure, it introduced again superb recollections,” Gavaskar mentioned when requested concerning the statue.
“That is an honour for all these with whom I performed cricket in my Bhagirathi (Bai) constructing (throughout childhood in Mumbai’s Tardeo), then on the college degree, on the membership (degree), within the Ranji Trophy staff and in Check cricket,” he mentioned throughout his speech.
“Had I not performed cricket with all of them, right this moment, this statue received’t have been potential. I’d not have reached right here with out the help I acquired from so many gamers within the dressing room.” MCA president Ajinkya Naik mentioned, “I requested him that are his favorite moments in Indian cricket. He shared few photos with me. I believe this was one of the best second for him in addition to for Mumbai and Indian cricket.” The museum may have two of Gavaskar’s caps, one among Mumbai and the opposite of Dadar Union Sports activities Membership.
“Dadar Union taught me a lot about the truth that the sport is greater than the person, (and) that, you don’t take the sport without any consideration, (and) that you need to carry on giving again to the sport,” he mentioned.
“However that cap was worn on the day we (India) beat Australia in 1981 (by 59 runs in third Check on 1980-81 tour) when Kapil (Dev) got here in at Melbourne and took 5 wickets (5/28). He was unwell the day gone by. He took painkilling injections and he got here on to bowl.” “It was a contact and go state of affairs — I’m superstitious, as you in all probability know from now — I had my Dadar Union cap, which was fortunate. That’s the reason I wore that cap that day — not the India cap — as a result of they needed to rating some 60-80 runs after which that they had misplaced three wickets,” he mentioned.
“Coronary heart remains to be in that Indian dressing room” =============================== Gavaskar mentioned he nonetheless will get emotional over Indian cricket’s highs and lows, and recalled sharing such moments with batter Cheteshwar Pujara in the course of the current England tour, when an inexperienced facet fought exhausting to safe a 2-2 draw.
“Look, each time India wins, it’s an emotional time,” he mentioned.
“I’ve stopped taking part in cricket for greater than nearly 40 years. However I used to be discussing with Cheteshwar in one of many final days of The Oval Recreation, that I believe it is vitally troublesome to get indifferent from the staff.
“You may not be in that altering room, however your coronary heart is in that altering room. Your emotions are in that altering room. And the emotion comes out each time India wins. Additionally, when India don’t do effectively,” he added.
Gavaskar mentioned whereas MCA has been a “beacon” for different associations within the nation, he expressed happiness that Indian cricket is being benefitted in all.
“Mumbai cricket has all the time been the beacon for the opposite associations,” he mentioned.
“Many issues that Mumbai does have been adopted by different associations and (they’re) attempting to get to the usual that Mumbai has.” “The usual has levelled up significantly which is implausible information for Indian cricket. However nonetheless, Mumbai retains on profitable, retains on attending to the semifinals and closing as effectively,” he added.
Printed on Aug 24, 2025