(RE-OPENS DEL 107)

Gavaskar said the the credit for the transformation in the Indian cricket goes to Pataudi. "He liberated the Indian cricket. He changed the outlook. He charged up to the spinners, lofting the bowlers over the field. Only CK Naidu and Lala Amaranth used to do it but after them it was Pataudi. He made things happen rather than wait for things to happen," Gavaskar said. Pataudi led the Indian team in decade of 1960s and it was under his leadership that India recorded its first away Test series win against New Zealand in 1968. "He changed the entire mind set. Indian team was run over by any team. He gave the team the confidence that you can play against any team and win," Gavaskar said. Gavaskar also said it was a big quandary as to how to address Pataudi. Whether to call him Nawab Sahib, Tiger, Pataudi sahib, captain or skipper and that he never could know it. The former Test opener remembered Pataudi as a prankster, narrating how he once fooled his teammates by orchestrating a hostage drama. Gavaskar said Pataudi asked his servants to come in the garb of dacoits when he took his teammates for a 'shikar' (hunt) and enacted the hostage drama. He also urged the Indian and Australian cricketers to bring in 'fun' in the upcoming Test series and also asked young cricketers to celebrate feats with smiles on face rather than throwing aggressive gestures. It apparently had refernce to the celebration-style of Virat Kohli.