Former India opener Aakash Chopra recently shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story involving batting legend Sachin Tendulkar during India’s 2003-04 tour of Australia. The cricketer-turned-commentator revealed that Tendulkar had to borrow his abdominal guard after his own protective gear unexpectedly broke during the tour.
Speaking on the YouTube channel Khaane Mein Kya Hai, Chopra explained that while cricketers usually travel with plenty of equipment, carrying a spare abdominal guard is not common. That led to an unusual moment in the Indian dressing room.
“We were together in the dressing room. His abdominal guard actually broke. So, he had to borrow someone’s. I gave it. You carry a lot of things, but you don’t carry two abdominal guards,” Aakash Chopra recalled.
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Chopra made his Test debut in October 2003 and played 10 Tests for India, scoring 437 runs. Six of those appearances came against Australia, making him part of the memorable 2003-04 tour that ended in a historic drawn series.
During the same conversation, Aakash Chopra also opened up about sharing a room with former India captain MS Dhoni on the India A tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya in 2004. He described Dhoni as an extremely shy youngster who never ordered room service throughout the 45-day tour.
“He was a very shy guy at that point in time. So, he won’t order. He said, ‘You order whatever you feel like.’ Now, if I have to order, I will order palak paneer or vegetarian food. Poor guy ate vegetarian. He used to bring some pastry from downstairs. For 45 days, he did not call room service even once,” Aakash Chopra said.
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Chopra retired from all forms of cricket in 2015 after a successful first-class career in which he amassed 10,839 runs at an average of 45.35. Since hanging up his boots, he has established himself as one of India’s most respected Hindi cricket commentators and analysts.
