Former India leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has opened up about painful instances of racism he endured early in his career, shedding light on a lesser-discussed side of Indian cricket’s past. Sivaramakrishnan, who was still a teenager when he broke into the Indian side during the 1982–83 tour of Pakistan, recalled a deeply upsetting incident that occurred on his birthday.

What should have been a celebratory moment turned distressing due to a racially insensitive remark from a teammate. Speaking to The Indian Express, he shared how a comment about the “colour” of his birthday cake left him shaken.

“Hey Sunny, you ordered the right colour cake. Such a dark chocolate cake for a dark boy,” the teammate reportedly said. The remark reduced the young cricketer to tears, and he initially refused to cut the cake. It was only after Sunil Gavaskar stepped in to console him that he went ahead with the ceremony, still visibly emotional.

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The incident, however, was not an isolated one. Sivaramakrishnan revealed that he had faced similar discrimination even before representing India. At just 14, he was mistaken for ground staff by a senior cricketer and was asked to clean shoes—an experience that left a lasting impact.

Ex-India star quits commentary, blames BCCI for ‘colour discrimination’. Internet left divided#BCCI #Crickethttps://t.co/4JPQRycULF

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During his domestic career in Tamil Nadu, he was subjected to derogatory nicknames, while crowds in North India often mocked him with racial slurs. These experiences, he said, were difficult to process at such a young age.

He also recalled an incident at a Mumbai hotel—now known as the Trident at Nariman Point—where a gatekeeper refused him entry, doubting that someone so young and unfamiliar-looking could be part of the Indian team. He was made to wait for nearly an hour until a teammate confirmed his identity.

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Even on the Pakistan tour, the taunts continued from the stands. Despite his talent and promise, Sivaramakrishnan had to navigate both on-field challenges and off-field prejudice—an experience that shaped his early journey in international cricket.