Former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri, who is vividly remembered for his heroics in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, recently recalled a fascinating interaction with Pakistan batting legend Javed Miandad towards the end of the tournament final.
Shastri, 60, had played an instrumental role with both bat and ball in India’s triumphant campaign Down Under. He had taken one wicket and scored an unbeaten 63 to help India beat arch-rivals Pakistan in the final by 8 wickets at MCG.
For his 182 runs and eight scalps in five matches, Shastri was also adjudged Player-of-the-Tournament.
In his column for The Indian Express, Shastri wrote that Miandad had tried to sledge him by mentioning the Audi car when India needed 15-20 runs to win the final.
"We needed some 15-20 runs more to beat Pakistan in the final of the 1985 Benson & Hedges tournament. I had a look at square-leg to check the field set by Javed Miandad, Pakistan’s captain. Javed perked up from midwicket.
“Tu baar baar udhar kya deke raha hai” (Why are you looking there repeatedly?) he said in his characteristic lisp. “Gaadi ko kyun dekh raha hai?!” (Why are you looking at the car). Voh nahi milne waali hai tere ko! (You are not going to get it!).
"That’s when I had one proper look at it, and told him, “Javed, meri taraf hi aa Rahi hai! (It’s coming my way, only!)," Shastri said.
Ravi Shastri recounted another incident to highlight the importance of India’s triumph in the WSC two years after lifting the World Cup.
"As a recall factor, more than most things I have done in my life, this car stands at the top. The six sixes had a recall value but this is the biggest in my career. The circumstances aligned: The timing of one-day cricket, day-and-night matches coming in from Australia, Channel 9 coming into India for the first time, 1983 was all whites, this was colour clothing and that pristine telecast. And of course when you get Pakistan in a final, no one can ever forget it – if you win it.
"Years later, I remember I was in Frankfurt in Germany on a holiday, having a nice pint of typical German beer. A big, tall Pathan walked across, obviously from North-Western frontier of Pakistan or Afghanistan. He recognised me and the first thing he asked me was, “Oh Shastri Ji, voh Gaddi ki ki haal chaal!” (How is the car?). I said ‘bikul teek-taak!” (It is fine). That’s the kind of reach it has,” he stated.
After retiring from cricket, Shastri took up commentary and became a renowned voice. Later, he served the Indian cricket team as head coach with immense success.
