IPL 2021: Sunil Gavaskar Recounts The Hilarious Encounter With Aussie Quick Jhye Richardson

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar revealed his hilarious meeting with Jhye Richardson on the flight from Dubai to Mumbai before the start of yesterday’s IPL game between PKBS and RR. Jhye Richardson was picked up in the auction by the Punjab Kings for whopping money of 14 crores and he made his debut for the Punjab Kings.

Punjab was short of quality fast bowlers in the last edition which affected their team balance and their performances, and hence the addition of Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson is surely going to have an impact this year. It forms a very potent attack with the likes of Mohammad Shami and Arshdeep Singh already in the wings.

“He Looked Like A School Kid To Me” – Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar opined that Jhye Richardson looked like a school kid when he encountered him for the first time in flight travel from Dubai to Mumbai. He added that he failed to recognize Richardson at the first sight and Simon Doull was the one who helped him out with it.

“I was sitting next to Jhye Richardson in the Dubai to Mumbai flight about 8-10 days ago. He looked like a school kid to me, in his shorts. I did not recognize him. The aircraft was pretty empty. He sat one row behind me because of social distancing,” Sunil Gavaskar recalled.

“Simon Doull was on the flight. I said to him – you were talking to him, who was he – and he told me it’s Jhye Richardson. And I thought he was someone who had just come out of school,” he further said.

Sunil Gavaskar Reckons Punjab Has A Better Bowling Attack This Time

Gavaskar went on to praise the inclusions of Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith to the Punjab attack which looks a lot more strong than last year. He added that Jhye Richardson has done well for the Australian team in the past which will be handy for the captain to have the much-needed trust in the new recruits.

“But Rahul who captained Punjab last time is more experienced than Sanju Samson. If you look at his pace attack with Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith – he has a better pace attack than he had last time around. That will make the difference,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

“But if he (Richardson) bowls well, and we have seen him bowl for Australia, that will be the thrust that both these bowlers (Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson) can provide them, that will be exactly what Punjab would be looking for,” he added.

Jhye Richardson will have to be at his best throughout the season with the price tag that has been offered to him.