Chetan Sharma Recalls When He Made Viv Richards Say He Needed Double Pads To Face Him

With no action going around the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic, former India fast-bowler Chetan Sharma, on Sunday, decided to open up about his early years in the game. Chetan Sharma, who will be always remembered as the first Indian to take a hat-trick in international cricketer, revealed several interesting anecdotes and one of them was how he compelled the legendary Viv Richards to take extra precaution against him.

He revealed the interesting story while interacting with the fans through a live session for Unite4Cricket on Facebook. Chetan Sharma was yet to make his debut for India when he got a chance to showcase his skills during a warm-up game against West Indies.

He grabbed the chance with both hands and picked up five wickets in the game. In his very first over of the match, he sent Gordon Greenidge’s middle-stump on a cartwheel. He then went on take four more wickets in the game and recalled that the wicket of Viv Richards was the best of the lot.

But that was not it. What delighted Chetan Sharma the most is the statement of Viv Richards after the game. After being castled by the India pacer, the West Indies legend had said that he needed double padding to face him.

Here is the full video:

https://www.facebook.com/Unite4Cricket/videos/520270592209994/?__tn__=%2Cd%3C-R&eid=ARBb01gvBdtI3_djV7we9azpAXe-e1XgR9avVu1zQDAs7W34p2q5aRfvayvvGNe5b9I9Tj3ZtwE0NJNh

Chetan Sharma went on to make his India debut in 1984 and represented the country for a decade. He went on to play nearly 100 international games for India across formats. In his distinguished international career, he gave the Indians fans a number of memorable memories.

On the tour of England in 1986, he took 16 wickets in two Tests, including the first ten-wicket haul by an Indian bowler in that country. In the following year, he became the first Indian to take a hat-trick in ODIs and also the first overall to take it in a World Cup. He dismissed Ken Rutherford, Ian Smith and Ewen Chatfield of New Zealand during the must-win clash in the 1987 World Cup and helped India enter the semifinal where they lost to England.

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