Did the organisers of the T20 Mumbai League opening ceremony slight Sunil Gavaskar?
At a vibrant and colourful prologue to the 11-day competition at a suburban five-star hotel on Saturday, Gavaskar, the league commissioner, appeared a touch upset at being called on stage after Sachin Tendulkar, League Ambassador, and Dilip Vengsarkar, Chief Mentor. Cine stars Sonali Bendre and Shreyas Talpade compered the show.
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Called upon for the oath taking ceremony along with the six captains on the stage, Gavaskar began his speech on a serious note, saying: “I have two questions for Sonali and Shreyas.”
'Why No. 3?'
When Shreyas asked “if it’s a googly,” Gavaskar responded quickly, saying: “No it’s not a googly. Sonali, you said so much about me and as an opening batsman, etc., but you called me at this number (No. 3) to bat today?”
And when Sonali and Shreyas let out a guffaw, Gavaskar, got a little more serious and said: “Why are you laughing. Shreyas, you have worked in a cricket film...then.” “ Mafi kara, mafi kara (I beg your pardon),” said Sonali and closed the sort of a somewhat sensitive situation.
A goodly crowd was all rapt, listening to three celebrities who engaged themselves in chaste marathi and Gavaskar, on his part, lightened the situation, saying: “I was just joking.”
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