There was a serious overlook made by Australia when India toured Australia last year. Amends seem to have been made as India went on to win the series named after the two legends by a 2-0 margin over the world champions.
When Australia won the Border Gavaskar Trophy in controversial circumstances in the aftermath of the fiasco surrounding the Sydney Test and the monkey gate scandal that broke out between Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh and spread maliciously into both dressing room, there were more mistakes committed. But none could have been this series.
Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border were present in Australia when the series was being played. Yet when the time for the final ceremony of the tour came about, neither gentleman was on the field. The reason being cited was the fact that perhaps Cricket Australia had overlooked inviting both gentlemen to the ceremony, let alone the podium. It was an ignominy no less to have both stalwarts of the game present and have the series named after them but not include them at the most prestigious moment of the entire series.
This time the BCCI and the tournament organizers ensured that neither esteemed gentleman would be overlooked. Border, present in India in the commentator’s role along with Gavaskar, and Gavaskar himself were present on the podium as gave away the award to the two Indian captains. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, on his part, was magnanimous and only being righteous when he invited the outgoing skipper Anil Kumble to the podium. While it was obvious which of the skippers had played a greater role in India’s current victory, it was the right thing to do. Dhoni certainly did not forget his manners!
In case you are wondering about the pic - it is of Border holding aloft the World Cup 1987 Trophy and alongside is Anil Ambani, the Chairman of the sponsors and the organizing committee.
