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The real story behind Gavaskar's 1981 Melbourne walkout

Sunil Gavaskar is a legendary Indian cricket and a former captain. He was involved in a controversial walkout during the Melbourne Test in 1981. He stayed numb on the issue for 40 years, while he finally decided to clear the air, as he comes up with the shocking truth.

The real story behind Gavaskar's 1981 Melbourne walkout-ayh
Author
Melbourne VIC, First Published Jan 2, 2021, 5:48 PM IST

Legendary former Indian cricketer and skipper Sunil Gavaskar is famous for numerous notable innings. However, there is one such instance which happens to be an infamous one in his career.

In 1981, Gavaskar had walked out during the Melbourne Test with his batting partner Chetan Chauhan, after being adjudged leg-before off a Dennis Lillee delivery. Gavaskar continues to rue to date that he had played the ball and wasn't leg-before.

Fans continue to wonder why Gavaskar had decided to walk out before team manager, Bapu Nadkarni, took care of the situation. After 40 years, Gavaskar has finally cleared the air on the same.

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"The misconception is that I was upset at the lbw decision. 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 told 7Cricket.

"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 trying to say, 'No I hit it.' And now you see, I've asked Chetan to walk off with me," Gavaskar further explained.

Nonetheless, Gavaskar has previously admitted in his interviews that he rued the decision to walk out of the game, which led to a controversy. Furthermore, India went on to win the match, which might not have been the case, had Nadkarni nor intervened.

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