‘Sir, please say sorry to Mr Gavaskar’ – Sarfaraz Khan’s message after soft dismissal

When Sunil Gavaskar took Sarfaraz Khan to task on commentary for his errant shot selection during the Dharamsala Test match, his disappointment had been personal.

The 26-year-old batter had been tracking well in his third Test match for India and appeared to be closing in on a first century, against a wilting England bowling attack.

Then, to the first ball after tea on day two with his score on 56, he donated his wicket to Shoaib Bashir with a limp cut to slip.

Gavaskar, who was on air at the time, was unimpressed. "The ball was pitched up, it wasn't short enough for that shot,” the former India batting great said.

“Goes for it and pays the price. I mean you are playing the first ball after tea. Give yourself a little sighter.

“Don Bradman said to me, 'Every ball that I face, even if I am on 200, I think I am on 0.' And here is [Sarfaraz], playing such a shot first ball of the session.”

There was a reason Gavaskar felt invested in his innings. The duo had shared a 45-minute meeting on the first evening of the Test, during which the senior of the two had dispensed some valuable wisdom to the youngster from Mumbai.

The number one lesson had been shot selection. So crestfallen had Sarfaraz been by the dismissal, he sent an apology to Gavaskar, via the Dubai-based businessman who had set up the meeting in the first place.

“Sunil was telling him that the most important thing is selection of shots,” Shyam Bhatia said of the trio’s meeting at their hotel in Dharamshala.

“It is very important. He was talking to him for around 45 minutes. Then in the match, immediately after tea he got out to a very stupid shot.

“Sunil was so angry, and asked on commentary what he was doing. The next day, Sarfaraz was with me again and said,