Top 10: Indian Cricket Dressing Room Moments

Ever wondered what happens inside the dressing room after a great win or a disgraceful loss or even a pitiful run out? Rumors, personal history, pranks, and what not goes on in every fan’s discussions. But we fans get to peek through the closed doors via some cricketer’s biography or some public interview. So folks, EssentiallySports brings you top 10 most fascinating dressing room tales from the world of cricket.

10. Sehwag and Sunil Gavaskar

Sehwag always had a (very well known) weak point: playing square cut. Sunil Gavaskar recommended him not to play that particular shot. The fun part is Sehwag got out playing square cut and in the dressing room they both had eye contact. Sehwag timidly said, “Bhool Gaya Sunny Paaji.” Gavaskar, being the gentleman that he is,  playfully hit him.

9. Farookh Engineer and Sunil Gavaskar

Farookh and Sunil were the Indians selected to play for Rest of the World in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in 1971. Both came out to open the innings. Gavaskar had limited experience. In the dressing room Farookh scorned Gavaskar, “Don’t get out for a duck as the walk back to the pavilion is the longest you will ever experience here in Melbourne.” And what happened? Engineer himself got out in the very first over and walked off the ground in disgrace. Gavaskar must have gloated seeing him walking back to the pavilion.

8. Sachin Tendulkar as Kabir Khan from ‘Chak De India’

It was 2003 World Cup, India started with a loss. The team was dismayed and dejected. At this crucial moment the team wanted some motivation. The God of cricket, Sachin Tendulkar took the stand and gave an inspiring speech (like the one Kabir Khan gave in film ‘Chak De India’). The team was so motivated that they went on to win 8 matches and blazed into the finals. Though they lost to Australia in the finals, it was a comprehensive effort from Team India.

7. Dhoni and Yuvraj

Dhoni once exposed that he was called ‘Bihari’ in his early days of career by Yuvraj Singh.
Even when Dhoni smashed bowlers all over the park for fours and sixes, Yuvraj teased Dhoni that,” Fours and Sixes are okay but what matters is winning the match for India”.
Dhoni turned out to be the best finisher of the game and for Indian cricket. But Yuvraj didn’t rest. He gave him a stern look and said,” Test matches are the real challenge where one’s strength is tested.”

Irritated Dhoni finally asked him, “That’s fine but tell me one thing, why are you always so angry?”
Yuvraj split into laughter and told him it was just a prank. They have been best friend since then.

6. Sehwag and John Wright

Sehwag always played in his ‘jaat’ way. It was India’s tour of New Zealand, 2002 (NatWest Trophy). He once got out to a senseless shot and Coach John Wright particularly mentioned him in the team meet. He again got out to a stupid shot which left John Wright fuming and he slapped Sehwag.
Soon the rumor spread in the news and Sehwag felt very sad. BCCI wanted Wright to apologize to Sehwag but Sachin intervened. Sachin told Sehwag that a coach shouldn’t apologize as he’ll lose all respect. Wright is like a fatherly figure and had no bad intentions. Sehwag dropped the matter. Apparently, it was a low scoring series throughout.

5. Team’s Prank on Captain Sourav Ganguly

One fine day the captain Sourav Ganguly walked into the dressing room and was left stunned and saddened. He was accused of having made some nasty comments about his team players in a newspaper. He pleaded to every player that he was guilty and said he’d never make same mistake again. After seeing Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra storming out of the room, he offered to resign from his captaincy. Rahul Dravid could not see his captain look so desperate, hence he blurted out that it was an April’s fool prank. “Dada picked up a bat and chased all of us out of the dressing room” said Yuvraj, unable to control his laughter.
“I was more relieved than embarrassed,” Ganguly said.

4. Yuvraj and Ganguly

It was the first time Yuvraj was the victim of the dressing room pranks. It was the night before his ODI debut against Kenya in the ICC 2000 knockout tournament, Ganguly asked him, “Open Karega na?” “(You’ll open, right?)”. Bewildered Yuvraj could only manage a squeaky “yes”. He could not sleep the whole night. The next morning Ganguly revealed that it was just a joke. Imagine Yuvraj’s state at that time! Phew!

3. Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar

It was Kohli’s first day in the dressing room. Anguished and nerve-wrecked as anybody would be Kohli was minding his own business in a separate corner. Two guys from the team came up to him and said that it was a tradition for every new cricketer to touch the feet of Sachin Tendulkar and seek his blessings. Kohli as per the guidelines did the same. Sachin laughed and said you’ve been pranked. Looks like evil minions of Indian Cricket team knows no boundary.

2. Sachin and Dravid

It was during Multan test 2004, Sachin was just 6 runs short of his double century when in-stand skipper Dravid gave the declare signal and declared the Indian innings. Sachin was hurt and furious. Everyone in the dressing room expected some drama but Sachin quietly said,” Leave me alone.” Later Ganguly and Coach Wright apologized about the bitter event.

1. Dawood Ibrahim and Kapil Dev

It isn’t quite shocking that crime lord Dawood Ibrahim had access everywhere. He even entered the Indian cricket dressing room. The then captain Dilip Vengsarkar revealed that Dawood once came into the dressing room and offered everyone a car if they beat Pakistan. It was during a tournament in Sharjah in 1987. Needless to say, Kapil Dev kicked him out saying,’ Chal bahar Chal.” “(Get Lost!”).

We will never be able to grasp the mood of players in the dressing room. It’s great to hear how cricketers enjoy each other’s company in the tense world of sports.
P.S. Yuvraj Singh has earned a reputation of being a fantastic match winner and the biggest prankster in the Indian team.