Former India head coach Ravi Shastri got emotional during the acceptance speech as he was honoured with the prestigious Col CK Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCCI Awards 2024 in Hyderabad.
Shastri who was a member of India's 1983 World Cup win was recognised for his contributions to the game both on and off the field.
During the ceremony, Shastri talked about his journey highlighting the special moments of his career that spanned from 1981 to 1992. Later, he talked about his experience as a broadcaster when he commented on the T20 World Cup 2007 win which included six sixes from Yuvraj Singh followed by an ODI World Cup in 2011 when skipper MS Dhoni finished the game in style.
However, the 61-year-old got the loudest applause from the cricketers present during the ceremony when he called Rishabh Pant's match-winning knock at the Gabba "icing on the cake". India's consecutive series wins on Australian soil have been the highlight of his coaching career. The second series win is more special for the Mumbai-born cricketer as a depleted Indian side took on the mighty Australians and was able to achieve remarkable feats defying all odds.
"It is a special evening for me. I think picking one would be difficult. But I will just go very quickly. You showed one that the 1985 final vs Pakistan was special in Melbourne. 1983 when India when the World Cup. But in commentary, 2007 when they won the T20 World Cup, and 2011 when MS hit that ball for six. Two back-to-back wins in Australia. But the icing on the cake was the last day at the Gabba when Rishabh Pant took us past the finishing line," Shastri said.
Shastri made his Test debut in 1981 against New Zealand. In the same year, he made his ODI debut against England. After India's maiden World Cup win, Shastri became the first Indian to hit six sixes in an over during a Ranji Trophy game to equal Garry Sobers' record.
He represented India in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs. He has scored 6,938 runs and taken 280 wickets in the international arena.
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