New Delhi: Former Indian batsman and Yashpal Sharma, who was part of the 1983 World Cup winning team, would have been celebrating his 71st birthday today. Born on 11 August 1954 in Ludhiana, Punjab, Yashpal Sharma suddenly said goodbye to the world in 2021.
Yashpal Sharma, who is called the ‘Silent Warrior’ of Indian cricket, most people remember the innings of 61 runs played against England in the 1983 World Cup semi -finals, but there is also an incident in his life that very few people know, Which changed his life forever.
Sometimes people from other areas choose the talents of the future. You call him Dilip Saheb (his screen name). I call him Yusuf Sahab (his real name).
You will be surprised to know that Yashpal Sharma, who was the great Bollywood actor Dilip Kumar, needed to recommend to make a place in the Indian team. Yes! Do not be surprised… This story was told by Yashpal Sharma himself. Dilip Kumar, who has said to the world at the age of 98, has a significant contribution in Yashpal Sharma’s career.
Yashpal Sharma told the media, ‘Yusuf saheb brought a significant turn in my life. I remember that I was a Ranji Trophy player and that year my team reached Punjab knockout. Where he faced Uttar Pradesh. I had scored 100 runs in the first innings and was unbeaten on 80 runs in the second innings. It was the last day of the match. Suddenly, I saw 2-3 big cars at the gate. Some people landed and almost everyone wore white clothes. I felt that this would be a local leader who likes cricket. They sat on a platform there.
Yashpal Sharma, remembering, further said, ‘When I completed my century in the second innings, she played applause. I had never met Yusuf Sahab before. Later a match officer came and said, ‘We have to go to the administrative box and meet someone.’ When I reached there, I did not have words because Yusuf saheb was just in front of me. He shook hands with me and said that he likes my batting. Dilip Saheb said, ‘You have tremendous mood. Obviously you are talented and I will talk to someone about you. To be honest, I liked that such a big person is talking to me Was. After that I never met him.
Within four years, Yashpal Sharma made his Dilip Trophy debut against the South region in 1977 and scored 173 runs in that match. Sharma said:
Playing for the rest of India in the Iranian Trophy in 1978, when I came on the field after batting, I was on 87 runs. I met the late Raj Singh Dungarpur ji (former chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India). He told me that we were keeping an eye on you. He (Dungarpur) only told me that a few years ago Yusuf Sahab recommended my name. I was very happy that a Bollywood star who did not even know me, recommended my name.