The Bouncer That Went over Everyone’s Head

Dilip Vengsarkar scores a duck when MCs at a function ask him about his World Cup medal

It was the function to unveil the World Cup 2011 logo in Mumbai. Hosts Sanjay Manjrekar and Harsha Bhogle asked players from World Cup-winning nations where they had kept their medals. Dilip Vengsarkar: “It was a great moment for the country. Four years later, we staged the World Cup in the Indian Subcontinent. Everyone expected it to be an India-Pakistan final but… it did not happen.” Bhogle turned to the others. “Mine’s under lock and key and is not going to be on eBay any time,” Clive Lloyd of the West Indies said. “My trophy cabinet,” said Aravinda de Silva of Sri Lanka. “In my garage,” said Australia’s Michael Bevan. Balwinder Sandhu said, “In a safe.” The MCs moved to Vengsarkar again. He said: “I remember NKP Salve, president of the Indian board, gave us Rs 25,000 each. We also got a cheque of Rs 100,000 from Lata Mangeshkar…” Manjrekar asked at last, “Where’s your medal?” He replied, impatiently, “At my farm in Panvel, you’ve seen it.”

Dilip VengsarkarHarsha BhogleWorld Cup medal