Dawood Ibrahim entered Team India’s dressing room… started giving a big offer, Kapil Dev showed his arrogance in one stroke – ‘Come out’

New Delhi. The grounds of Sharjah were scorching that day. The Indian team returned to the dressing room drenched in sweat after a rigorous practice session. Veteran players like Srikanth, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Kirti Azad were trying to relieve their fatigue. The atmosphere in the dressing room was calm, but then two people entered without any permission. One of those faces was known to everyone, the famous Bollywood comedian Mehmood. But the other person present with him, who was wearing glasses, was a stranger to the players. Mahmood introduced the man with great enthusiasm and said that he was a big businessman.

Recalling this incident years later, Dilip Vengsarkar said that the ‘businessman’ was none other than underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Dawood was increasing his power and influence at that time. Standing in the dressing room, he made a surprising proposal in front of the Indian players. Dawood said, ‘If you guys defeat Pakistan team tomorrow and win the tournament, then I will gift a Toyota car to every member of the team, be it players or officials.’

Toyota cars in the 80’s were nothing less than a dream
In the 1980s, Toyota cars were no less than a dream. There was silence in the dressing room for a moment. The players were looking at each other. The offer was tempting, but it was against the dignity and discipline of the game. The team did not respond to that proposal at that time, but the man remained there. Just then Indian captain Kapil Dev entered the dressing room. Kapil had returned after the practice session from press conference or some other work. As soon as he saw outsiders in the dressing room, his temper rose. For Kapil Dev, the dressing room was like a temple, where outsiders had a van entry.

Dawood looked into Kapil Dev’s eyes, turned and walked out
Kapil Dev, regardless of his status or influence, pointed directly towards the man and said in a firm voice, ‘Come out!’ Both Mahmood and Dawood were stunned. The man whose name made Mumbai tremble was ordered by a cricketer to go out in front of everyone. Without saying a word, Dawood looked into Kapil Dev’s eyes, turned and quietly walked out of the dressing room.

Real name revealed later
The interesting thing is that at that time Kapil Dev had no idea who he had thrown out. Kapil later clarified in an interview, ‘I just knew that some outsider had come inside and according to the rules he should not have been there. I asked him to leave and he left. Later someone told me that he is a smuggler from Bombay whose name is Dawood Ibrahim. For Kapil he was just an outsider, but for the rest of the players it was a scary moment. According to Vengsarkar, that proposal was rejected outright because the Indian team was not playing for any reward but for the glory of the tricolor.

Don did not fare well in front of ‘Haryana Hurricane’
This story is still narrated with pride in the corridors of Indian cricket. This story is not just about the encounter between Dawood Ibrahim and Kapil Dev, but it is an example of the discipline and honesty of Indian cricket of that era. Kapil Dev had proved that day that the playing field and the players’ dressing room are far beyond the reach of any criminal. No matter how deeply Dawood Ibrahim deepened his roots in the world of crime later, on that day in 1987, the Don did not stand a chance in front of ‘Haryana Hurricane’ in the dressing room of Sharjah. He quietly went out, leaving behind a history which is still remembered as a proof of Kapil Dev’s fearlessness.