5 instances when 1983 World Cup hero Kris Srikkanth was at his funniest

#3 When Srikkanth was asked to 'keep standing'

Kris Srikkanth during a Nehru Cup match between India and Pakistan held in November 1989. Pic: Getty Images

Every Indian cricket fan is aware of Kapil Dev’s legendary knock of 175* against Zimbabwe when Srikkanth and Sunil Gavaskar were dismissed without scoring.

Mohinder Amarnath, Sandeep Patil and Yashpal Sharma were also out for single-figure scores, as India crumbled to 17 for 5 batting first in the 1983 World Cup encounter in Tunbridge Wells.

Srikkanth has a funny recollection of Kapil’s iconic knock as well. He was apparently asked to keep standing throughout the captain’s innings. The eccentric former cricketer told The Hindu during an interaction:

"There are a lot of superstitions in cricket. Kapil was batting well when I was standing with my wife Vidya outside the dressing room. And throughout his innings, I was asked to keep standing there because of a feeling that if I moved even an inch, Kapil would get out.

"It was a cold, windy day and things were not easy for me or Vidya. But Kapil's innings made us forget the ordeal."

Kapil’s innings lifted India to 266 for 8. Madan Lal and Roger Binny then combined to claim five wickets as India won the contest and reignited their 1983 World Cup campaign.

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#4 Srikkanth winked at PM Indira Gandhi

Kris Srikkanth batting in an ODI against England in 1984. Pic: Getty Images

Those who have seen Srikkanth batting would be aware of his winking habit. However, the former cricketer couldn’t control the peculiar mannerism off the field either.

In fact, Kapil Dev once revealed that Srikkanth winked at then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the early 1980s. Sharing a funny anecdote during a press interaction, Kapil said:

"Srikkanth always winked. So, us senior players told him that Madam Indira Gandhi was going to come meet us, and that he was not allowed to wink at her. I was taking her down the line-up and Cheeka was next to Sunil Gavaskar.

"Now, anyone who meets Gavaskar would take that 30 seconds extra to interact with him. The moment I introduced Cheeka, he started winking left, right and centre at her."

The former captain revealed that when Srikkanth was confronted about the same, he replied:

"Well, she started it first."

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#5. How Srikkanth got the nickname ‘Dadpadango’

Kris Srikkanth in full flow during his playing days. Pic: Getty Images

In 2019, Srikkanth and Kapil appeared as guests on a show titled "Cricket Diaries." During the interaction, Srikkanth opened up about his superstitious nature and said that he used to curl his bat at the crease.

He added that he often dropped his bat from his hands. Kapil revealed that due to this habit of dropping things Srikkanth earned the nickname "Dadpadango."

Kapil also claimed that it was "almost impossible" for Srikkanth to walk straight. During a Test match in Adelaide, Srikkanth fell down multiple times.

There are a few steps between the lobby and the resting area, and Srikkanth overlooked the stairs, causing him to fall. Kapil even placed a bet that he would take his teammates to dinner if Srikkanth did not fall and won the bet easily.

Srikkanth himself chipped in and explained that his superstition of always looking up towards the sun did not help his cause.