New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer and coach Anshuman Gaekwad opens up on team India skipper Virat Kohli’s paternity leave by sharing a story from India’s 1975-76 tour of the West Indies. Gaekwad has revealed that Sunil Gavaskar didn’t want to get killed on the tour of the West Indies back in 1976. Rather he wanted to go to India to attend the birth of his son. Gaikwad put forth the incident in reference to Virat Kohli’s paternity leave from India’s ongoing tour of Australia.
India chased down 403 in the fourth innings of the third Test at the Port of Spain to level the series at 1-1. Gavaskar who scored a century, did not want to be face too many of them and was thus angry when the umpires refused to intervene, Gaekwad said. “1976 in West Indies. That Jamaica Test match which we talk about – the bloodbath. Sunil complained to the umpires about the bouncers and beamers that were being bowled at us. The umpire just laughed it off,” Gaekwad quoted, as saying to Sportskeeda.
“Sunil lost his cool. For the first time, I had ever seen him lose his cool at the ground and that too while batting. He threw his gloves and bat and started walking around. I told him, ‘Sunny, relax. What happened?’ he said, ‘I don’t want to get killed here. I want to go home and see my son, who’s just born’. That’s the difference between then and now.”
Supporting the Indian skippers decision, Gaekwad said that such a call is an individual one and that no one should be unnecessarily criticized for making such decisions.
“It all depends on the individual. You cannot hurt anyone’s sentiments and emotions. If one feels I have to be there then no question. Be it a Test, or ODI or the World Cup,” Gaikwad said.
Virat Kohli’s returned home, after playing the Pink Ball match in Adelaide, to be with his wife Anushka Sharma as the couple are expecting the birth of their first child in January 2021.
“As it is a very very special, and a very very beautiful moment in our lives. And, something that I truly want to experience, so, that was the reason behind my decision.” Kohli said during an interview.
