Sunil Gavaskar has cleared the air on his infamous stroll-out throughout the Melbourne Test of 1981, saying it was the Australian players’ “get lost” contact, and not his leg-ahead of dismissal, that prompted him to storm off the ground with his opening companion. In the 1981 series, that was dogged by some inconsistent umpiring, a Dennis Lillee in-cutter caught Gavaskar plumb in front and umpire Rex Whitehead, standing in just his third Test, raised his finger. But Gavaskar, who believed that the ball had got his bat on the way to the pad, protested by standing his ground extended sufficient.
“The misconception is that I was upset at the lbw decision,” Gavaskar told 7Cricket.
“Yes, it was upsetting. But the walk-off happened only because, as I had gone past Chetan (Chauhan) on the way to the change-rooms, the Australians had given me a spray. They told me to get lost, which is where I’ve come back and asked Chetan to walk off with me.”
Gavaskar also slapped his pads with the bat, letting the umpire know about his anger.
As he reluctantly began to leave, Lillee reportedly produced one particular comment also numerous and the Indian snapped, returned to the crease and instructed fellow opener Chetan Chauhan to stroll off the pitch with him.
A bemused Chauhan did as he was told, but at the boundary rope, the batsmen have been met by group manager Shahid Durrani and assistant manager Bapu Nadkarni.
“I got an inside-edge as you can see from the forward short leg fielder. He hasn’t done anything, he hasn’t moved.
“Dennis (Lillee) is telling me, “It hit you there,” and I’m attempting to say, “No I hit it.” And now you see, I’ve asked Chetan to stroll off with me,” stated the former India captain narrating the incident on a show exactly where it was played out for him.
In his earlier interviews, Gavaskar has stated that he regretted the choice to leave the field in such a controversial manner.
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