Joy's diary: Dev and Gavaskar enjoy the party

Joy Chakravarty 03:12 06/02/2016
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  • Legends: Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar.

    Indian cricket is in a good spot right now, but there was a time when it’s entire history revolved around two men – Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev.

    The two superstars, Gavaskar was the first to break Sir Donald Bradman’s record of 29 Test centuries and also reach 10,000 runs in Test cricket, and Dev, who became the highest wicket-taker in the world in 1994 going past the mark of Sir Richard Hadlee, paid a visit to Omega Dubai Desert Classic on Friday.

    Dev is a keen golfer, while Gavaskar may not play much, but loves following the sport. Also in attendance was former England star Kevin Pietersen.

    Meanwhile, there have been two injury-related withdrawals so far from the Desert Classic. American Peter Uihlein pulled out on Friday after playing nine holes. He looked like having a decent round of even-par 37 after starting on the 10th tee, but a niggling wrist injury flared up again and he walked in after just nine holes.

    Simon Khan withdrew on Friday morning after making bogeys in his first two holes. The Englishman, a former BMW PGA Championship winner, has been suffering from back issues for quite some time now.

    The nightmare continued for two-time champion Stephen Gallacher, who missed the cut after never finishing outside the top-three in his last four Dubai Desert Classic starts.

    The Scot, champion in 2013 and 2014, was hoping a return to Emirates Golf Club would turn around his fortunes, but no such luck.

    It was a terrible start, Gallacher pulling his tee shot on the 10th hole and losing it in the left rough. He was being followed by a lot of friends, but unfortunately, spectators are not allowed to the left of the 10th fairway.

    “Thirty of my pals there and none of them helped me look for it,” Gallacher said after round, still able to retain his humour

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