Vengsarkar plays a classy innings at the release function of a book on India's 1983 World Cup team written by B S Sandhu
Vengsarkar plays a classy innings at the release function of a book on India's 1983 World Cup team written by B S Sandhu
Dilip Vengsarkar was always better known for delighting purists in the stands with his batting ability. At the MIG Cricket Club yesterday, he proved that on his day, he could entertain indoors too.
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Vengsarkar was invited by his Mumbai and 1983 World Cup teammate Balvinder Singh Sandhu to release his book The Devil's Pack written in collaboration with Austin Coutinho. "I met Ballu (Sandhu's nickname) at a wedding reception a few days ago and he told me that his book will be released soon. Who's going to release it, I asked, and Ballu said, 'you.' " The room was in splits.
Vengsarkar turned back the clock to the 1984-85 season when he and Sandhu were part of the West Zone team which faced David Gower's England tourists at Rajkot. Known for his analytical ways, Sandhu told Sandeep Patil in the players' enclosure that the only way to play English left-arm spinner Phil Edmonds was to sweep him. Patil urged him to play the shot when he went into bat. Sandhu obliged. Vengsarkar was batting at the other end nearing his 200 when Sandhu swept Edmonds only to get a top edge. The scoreboard read: B S Sandhu c Paul Downtown b Edmonds 0. Patil made it a point to stand right in front of the dressing room door to 'welcome' Sandhu back.
Vengsarkar also remembered the time when he was leading a side that included Sandhu and Ravi Shastri.
Sandhu bowled three consecutive inswingers to Gopal Sharma which were dispatched to the boundary.
Bradman kya?
Shastri, who was stationed at mid-on, refused to run and fetch the ball and poor Sandhu had to do it. Sandhu forced an edge off the fourth delivery which the wicketkeeper held on to and as the batsman made his way to the pavilion, Sandhu said to him, "you think you are Bradman, hitting in that
fashion?"
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