Indian cricket commentator and former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar triggered laughter online as he demanded the Kohinoor diamond from his fellow English commentator Alan Wilkins during the Indian Premier Leaguecommentary. A video of his conversation with Wilkins has gone viral and netizens have been left in splits.
The clip begins with the aerial view of the Queen’s Necklace, Marine Drive in Mumbai. Gavaskar is heard saying in a lighter vein, “The Queen’s Necklace…We are still awaiting the Kohinoor diamond.” Taking it in his stride, Wilkins said that he knew it was coming. Further, Gavaskar said, “If you do have any influence, maybe you can persuade the British government to return the diamond.”
Watch the video here:
“We are still waiting for the Kohinoor diamond” 😂😂
~Sunil Gavaskar, 2022 (To Alan Wilkins)pic.twitter.com/3jOFNn4yCX— Gems of Commentary (@GemsOfComms) April 11, 2022
Gavaskar’s demand for Kohinoor diamond on air has struck a chord among netizens and many termed it as “savage”. “But only #SunilGavaskar can ask an English commentator on national television to ask his government to return the Kohinoor they stole from India. Savage !! Made my evening,” commented a user.
I don’t think it’s @Swannyg66 It was probably @NickKnightMEB or @alanwilkins22 But only #SunilGavaskar can ask an English commentator on national television to ask his government to return the Kohinoor they stole from India. Savage !!
Made my evening 😂😂#IPL2022 https://t.co/NYdfkeGx7C— Lovepreet Singh 🌊 (@imLovepreetS) April 11, 2022
#SunnyG be like: https://t.co/vD8JU7ioHF pic.twitter.com/PHD43Ngie4
— Pathik Joshi💪 (@pathikj80) April 11, 2022
+ an apology is still pending for Jaliawala bagh massacre https://t.co/67ypPDZm0W
— Saiyaara ✨ (@BeingKushSharma) April 10, 2022
Savage stuff by Sunny G https://t.co/Jye1F3m0CY
— Viggi.17 (@VighneshMenon) April 10, 2022
The Kohinoor diamond, now in London, has been a bone of contention between the Indian government and the British government for long. An RTI reply by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in 2018 said that the world-famous diamond was “surrendered” by the Maharaja of Lahore to the Queen of England and “not handed over” to the British nearly 170 years ago, as per a PTI report. However, in 2016, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that the diamond was not forcefully taken away by the British.
Kohinoor, meaning ‘Mountain of Light’, is a large, colourless diamond and its origin has been traced to Golconda in Andhra Pradesh. It was mined from the Rayalaseema diamond mine during the Kakatiya dynasty’s rule in the 14th century.
