Sir Donald Bradman had enquired about Shiv Sena, Vinod Kambli

Sir Donald Bradman, who is widely considered as the legend of the game was more than just his game and his batting. He was not just a figure of the game but was an institution himself. “Sir Don” was always a curious person who wanted to gain information through various sources, a keen follower of the small things that happen around him on and off the field.

Sir Don has always set the benchmark high for the other batsman with an average just short of 100. The batsman failed to finish his career with an average of 100 after he ended up getting no runs against arch-rivals England which dropped his average to below 100. No batsman till date has found the right combination to sustain an average of 100 in International cricket, despite Adam Voges’ excellent short-spanned career where the Aussie had an average of over 100 before his average fell below 70’s.

An example of the Legend’s curiosity was well-known when he approached the Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar on the dinner table in Adelaide in the year 1978 where the Legend wanted to know more about Maharashtra’s influential party “Shiv Sena”.

Gavaskar revealed this information during the function to commemorate the birth centenary of the legendary Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad. Further, there was another example of the legend’s curiosity- When a Kolkata-based Journalist managed to get a few words from him during the 1991-92 tour of Australia.

The Journalist revealed that Sir Don Bradman had expressed his delight over Sachin Tendulkar’s performance for the country, but also enquired about the other Indian batsman Vinod Kambli. The inquiry erupted after the legend had heard about the duo’s record partnership of 664-run for their school. Bradman further expressed his delight over Kambli’s inclusion in the 1992 World Cup squad.