It is difficult to decide that which is the actual turning point for Indian cricket, but former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president, N. Srinivasan, reckons that arrival of Sunil Gavaskar changed the dynamics of cricket in India.

Speaking at the sidelines of an award function for Indian golfers, Srinivasan admitted, “There was a time when no foreign teams would come to India. Australia was not interested in coming to India. Even when Australia and England came on those days, they would not get the first team. Len Hutton did not visit India, Don Bradman did not come to India. There was no respect for Indian cricket.”

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But things changed over the time, he said, “The turning point was the coming of Gavaskar. He was the first person who said we can play fast bowlers. From there, all other talents developed, slowly, slowly, till the 1983 World Cup win. Now suddenly you have a flush.”

Having seen Indian cricket from close quarters, the former president said the Indian team was now respected all over the world. He said, “The Indian team is now respected in all conditions, even South Africa is one of them. They landed only two days before this time, their planning was wrong. But they recovered by the third Test. It took India 80-90 years to reach this stage.”

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Drawing reference to erstwhile India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s rise, Srinivasan said: “In such a large country, there are so many talents. You might bring them to the fore. Who heard of Mahendra Singh Dhoni? He was in Jharkhand, only when cricket went to districts he came up. Otherwise, where was he? We would not even have discovered him. Talent is there, it will come. Next few years, you will see golf occupying the top spot.”