LUCKNOW: India’s defeat during their South Africa tour in 1992-93 was rather humiliating. The squad led by Mohammad Azharuddin lost the Test series 1-0 and ODI series 5-2 to South Africans led by former Aussie player Kepler Wessels.
Over a year later, the defeat was avenged in a game of nerves played between the Naval forces of the two countries in 1994, recall the then crew of INS Gomati.
After South Africa abolished apartheid, their navy went on to purchase spear for frigates and corvette.
Responding to their needs, the Indian Navy in 1994 sent the world’s most advanced frigate of that time, INS Gomati, and highly decorated corvette INS Khukri.
The Indian Navy was the second to reach South Africa after the Germans.
Recalling the matches, retired commodore G Prakash who served on INS Gomati for a two-year period, said, “There is a tradition among all the navies in the world to engage in friendly sports and games when one navy visits another's home base. So, as part of the tradition, the South African Navy asked to join for a friendly cricket match at Durban. Interestingly, prior to the cricket match, the South African Navy crew, which primarily consisted of white men, pointed out in satirical manner that the Indian cricket team had lost two series when they toured South Africa in 1992-93.”
The comment came after South Africa also rejected the Indian government’s proposals for frigates and corvette.
“So, we decided to avenge the Indian team’s loss and formed a team from the crew of INS Gomati and INS Khukri. I don’t recall the exact score, but our team’s win over the South African Naval team hurt the ‘white’ men. They called for another match. Normally, a game is not repeated in the Naval tradition. But we agreed and played another match at Simon’s Bay in Cape Town. This time the South African Naval team brought their best cricket players in the service – but our team defeated them too. The entire tour, however, ended on a happy note,” said Prakash who hails from Cochin.
“The confidence to dominate an opponent was natural for us, as INS Gomati was the most advanced frigate of that time in the world,” he added.
