When one legend asks for an autograph from another, the moment has to be a special one. So it was for Sunil Gavaskar when he requested Mahendra Singh Dhoni for an autograph on his shirt.
Gavaskar, a former India captain and a legendary batsman, got his shirt autographed by Dhoni during Chennai Super Kings’ last league match at their home — the MA Chidambaram Stadium — against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Gavaskar, who was on the field with the broadcast unit after the game on Sunday night, requested Dhoni to sign his shirt as the Chennai players were doing a lap of honour around the stadium.
“When I got to know that Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni are going to take a lap of honour at Chepauk, I decided to create a special memory. That’s why I ran towards MSD to take his autograph. It was his last home game at Chepauk,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying on Star Sports.
“So, I went to Mahi and requested him to sign an autograph on the shirt that I was wearing. It was so nice of him to acknowledge it. It was a very emotional moment for me because this fellow has made immense contributions to Indian cricket,” he added.
CSK are currently placed second in the standings and look set to make the IPL playoffs. But it is yet to be determined whether the Dhoni-led side would be back at the Chepauk, which will host the Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, for the playoffs.
“Of course, he will get a chance to play here if CSK qualifies for the playoffs. But I decided to make that moment special. I was fortunate enough that someone in the camera unit had a marker pen. So I am thankful to that person as well,” said Gavaskar.
For Gavaskar, Kapil Dev lifting the World Cup in 1983 and Dhoni hitting the winning six in the 2011 World Cup final are the “two cricketing moments I would love to see before I die”.
Written with inputs from PTI
