Ex-India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has made explosive allegations of racism and colour discrimination against former teammates.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sivaramakrishnan refrained from divulging names but he opened up about the episodes that left lasting mental scars.

The first scar came at the tender age of 14 while serving as a net bowler for the Indian team at Chepauk. Still in his school uniform, Sivaramakrishnan was approached by a senior India batter, who allegedly asked him to clean his shoes.

Recalling the incident, Sivaramakrishnan said: "I just looked at him and said, 'That's none of my business, you just do what you need to do.'"

He clarified that the senior player had mistaken him for the stadium's ground staff. "I didn't know what racism or colour discrimination was. I was just wondering why this man had to react like this."

Sivaramakrishnan also recounted the traumatic experience of racism in the Tamil Nadu dressing room, where players called him "karupa" (dark-skinned).

There were occasions when crowds mocked him in Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Jalandhar, chanting: "Kalia, tera kya hoga".

Another incident mentioned in the interview included one senior Indian player making derogatory comments about his skin colour during his 17th birthday celebrations.

It was the legendary Sunil Gavaskar who had to console him as he cut the cake with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Hey Sunny, you ordered the right colour cake. Such a dark chocolate cake for a dark boy," a senior player said, as claimed by Sivaramakrishnan.

"I started crying and refused to cut the cake. Sunil Gavaskar had to pacify me and then I cut the cake with tears in my eyes."