Legendary India batsman Sunil Gavaskar clarified that he had not asked the BCCI for the Paternity leave in 1975 as Virat Kohli did now. He expels this statement after Virat Kohli has been awarded paternity leave from Australia’s tour.
Earlier Ashish Nehra and Gautam Gambhir slam Virat Kohli for his poor captaincy in the ongoing Australia tour.
Sunil Gavaskar avoids Paternity leave in 1975 tour
Gavaskar recalls the moment when India toured New Zealand in 1975-76. During the tour, Gavaskar chooses to play for India rather than to be with his wife for the birth of their son Rohan.
“While this is correct, the circumstances of that request were not quite made clear and so, here is an attempt to put the record straight. Firstly, I did not ask permission to return to be by my wife’s side for the birth.
When I left with the Indian team for the (1975-76) twin tour of New Zealand and the West Indies, I was aware that the baby would come while I was away. I was committed to playing for India and my wife backed me to the hilt.
“The doctors advised a four-week break from the game for recovery. The next Test match was in the West Indies in about three weeks and since I wasn’t going to be able to play in the interim, I asked our manager, the legendary Polly Umrigar, if I could go back at my own expense for a few days and rejoin the team in the West Indies well ahead of the First Test.
So there was no question of me missing a Test match other than for injury. In fact, I played the first Test despite the doctor having advised another week’s rest,” Gavaskar said.
Virat Kohli is expected to leave for India after the first Test match against Australia.
