Australia legend Adam Gilchrist is known for redefining the role of wicketkeeper batsman in cricket. In 96 Tests, Gilchrist scored 5570 runs at an average of almost 48 with 17 centuries while the southpaw amassed 9619 runs from 287 ODIs including 16 tons.
Gilchrist was also part of Australia’s three triumphant World Cup campaigns in 1999, 2003 and 2007. In fact, it was his whirlwind knock (104-ball 149) against Sri Lanka in the final that helped Australia to clinch the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean.
Primarily known for his exploits with the bat, there is one bowling stat of Gilchrist which rarely gets a mention. He has one T20 wicket to his name and his victim was none other than the veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Playing for Kings XI Punjab in the 2013 IPL season, Gilchrist decided to roll his arm over and dismissed Mumbai Indians’ Harbhajan on the very first delivery.
In an interview with cricket presenter Gaurav Kapur on the Youtube show “Isolation Premier League”, Harbhajan recalled the moment.
“Who was the bowler who dismissed you with the only bowl he ever bowled in T20 cricket?” the host asked.
“Adam Gilchrist! I was like Gilchrist has come in front of me, let’s hit him for runs. I saw the size of the ground, and I thought I could hit every ball for a six. But it did not happen. What happened was that I was caught on the first ball towards the fine line. Nothing can be more embarrassing than it,” Harbhajan said.
“I got out on a delivery from a player who maybe never even bowled a single ball at the nets. But I made him happy. I have dismissed him so many times in Test cricket, I was like ‘okay, man, you too be happy’,” he added.
“I dismissed him 11 times in Test cricket. He celebrated for those 11 times in that one dismissal. He celebrated in every way - he did a ‘Gagnam dance’, he did somersaults, he remembered all those 11 dismissals after he dismissed me that one time,” the off-spinner continued.
After claiming Harbhajan’s wicket, Gilchrist had celebrated jubilantly and later explained the reason behind his ecstasy.
“Harbhajan took my wicket many many times so I just wanted to mimic the reaction. Really well received by this fab crowd. 8 wins and 8 losses, that sums up our cricket the last three years. It will be interesting to see how careers go over the next few years. Happy to watch now and be entertained. Wonderful memories with Kings XI,” he had said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
(Inputs from Hindustan Times)
