One icon to one other: Gavaskar recalled how Muralitharan used to pronounce Sehwag and Shoaib, leaving everybody in splits.
| Photo Credit: Ritu Raj Konwar
There they have been, collectively on the stage. Sunil Gavaskar, Leander Paes and Muttiah Muralitharan certainly introduced an image of sporting excellence.
Muralitharan was introduced with the primary ever International Icon award on the Sportstar Aces Awards 2024 right here on Thursday. There couldn’t have been a extra deserving star than the Sri Lankan spinning legend, who took a surprising 800 Test wickets, for such an award.
“I am lucky to get the first award in this category, and I would like to thank The Hindu and Sportstar as well as the jury comprising legends,” he stated. “The first-ever match I got to see featured the legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.”
Muralitharan stated how a lot cricket meant for a rustic that was going through so many issues. “Sports was one thing that gave joy to all youngsters, and it made us forget other things,” he stated. “That inspired me to take up sport and that is why I am here.”
Paes, the tennis nice who shone in his function as a presenter, requested Muralitharan to title the hardest three batters he bowled to.
“Virender Sehwag was the toughest to bowl to,” he stated. “The way he played was different; he didn’t care. He just wanted to hit the ball. He wasn’t scared of getting out. That was why he was very dangerous. In Test cricket, when I started out, Brian Lara was the ultimate. Then there was Sachin Tendulkar. It took me about six years to take his wicket.”
Muralitharan additionally spoke extremely of Sunil Gavaskar who took on essentially the most fearsome quick bowlers with out sporting helmets. “Gavaskar scored those hundreds in the West Indies in tough conditions against all those fast bowlers,” he stated.
Also on the stage to honour Muralitharan was Jayen Mehta, Managing Director, Amul.
