When Anshuman Gaekwad asked Kapil Dev to call it a day

Kapil Dev to call it a day back in 1994. “You can’t drop such a big player. We allowed him to play the Test series against Sri Lanka, and he broke the world record (for being the highest wicket-taker) in the Ahmedabad Test.

We thought he’ll announce his retirement after breaking the world record. However, that evening, in the press conference, he said that he’ll play for two more years. "Next day, a seemingly hassled Vishy (chief selector Gundappa Viswanth) told me: ‘See the headlines of the newspapers.

Kapil is saying that he will play for 2 more years,’” reminisced Gaekwad, before elaborating about the incident further. “That same evening, there was a selection committee meeting. (Jagmohan) Dalmiya was the BCCI secretary.

So we sat and decided that it was time for Kapil to quit (international cricket). I suggested to Dalmiya that as a selection committee chairman and senior, Vishy should talk to him. That makes it easier also.

However, Vishy insisted. that I should accompany him. "At tea time, we approached Kapil in the dressing room.

Now, knowing that Vishy was a shy guy and didn’t want to get into any controversy. He wasn’t a forthright guy, who would tell you that you were doing something wrong on your face. He would go round and round while talking to someone.

So, I took the initiative.” Gaekwad was candid in his conversation to Kapil. “I told Kapil: ‘Kaps, we need to talk to you.’ I told him: ‘The selectors feel that you need to quit now, and you also know it. We will give you a farewell game, as per your choice, but now you’ve to call it a day.

Kapil reacted very nicely. He said: ‘Thank you very much. I really appreciate what you told me.' One has to do this kind of a thing at times, which I did,” revealed the