IPL helps Shyam Bhatia complete poster with autographs of all World Cup-winning captains

By K.R. Nayar
From Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai 

Cricketers chase milestones. Cricket memorabilia collectors chase cricketers for autographs on the special collections they accumulate. Shyam Bhatia, a Dubai-based businessman, owns numerous special items used by legendary cricketers that are housed in his museum. He has created a huge poster featuring caricatures of all the ICC World Cup-winning captains along with their signatures. One of the missing signatures was that of Australian skipper Michael Clarke. During the ongoing IPL, he finally secured Clarke’s signature, completing his mission. Clarke, now one of the IPL commentators, was happy to sign for him.

The poster autographed by all World Cup winning captains 

Bhatia enjoys taking up such challenges. His passion for the game is so immense that he will go to any extent to achieve his goals. Some missions seemed impossible, yet he has succeeded time and again. I have personally witnessed many of these missions, all undertaken to add further glitter to his museum. Obtaining Don Bradman's autographed bat, Viv Richards’ blazer, and the ties and crests of all Test-playing nations were achievements that required meticulous planning and relentless effort.

 

Michael Clarke admires the poster before  signing and promises to visit the Shyam Bhatia museum 

West Indies’ Clive Lloyd, the two-time World Cup-winning captain and a close friend of Bhatia, was among the first to sign the poster. Kapil Dev, a regular visitor to Bhatia’s museum, also signed easily. Imran Khan and Arjuna Ranatunga had both visited the museum earlier as well. Signatures of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ricky Ponting, and Eoin Morgan were collected one by one even on bats of world cup  winning captains. All caricatures on this poster were drawn by the renowned South African artist Ritchie Ryall.

With Gopal Jasapara and Michael Clarke at the Trident Hotel 

When Bhatia learned that Clarke would be in Mumbai for the IPL, he promptly arranged for his museum curator and cricket coach, Gopal Jasapara, to go to Mumbai from Dubai with the poster to meet Clarke. Since I am reporting on the IPL from Mumbai, I met Jasapara at the Trident Hotel, where Clarke was staying. Clarke had agreed to meet Jasapara on his way to the Wankhede Stadium for commentary duties. Known for his well-timed shots as a batter, Clarke was equally punctual for his appointment to sign the poster.

The bats autographed by all the World Cup winning captains at the Shyam Bhatia museum

While signing, Clarke remarked that his commentary colleague, Sunil Gavaskar, had spoken highly about Bhatia’s museum. “I am so happy to autograph this special poster and I’m eager to visit the museum, as I’ve heard a lot about it,” noted Clarke. Incidentally, the meeting of Clarke to sign the poster was arranged by Gavaskar.

Sunil Gavaskar and Shyam Bhaita... a friendship of over four decades

Bhatia said: "I called Sunny (Gavaskar) and told about the only signature that is missing in the poster. Sunil immediately spoke to Michael and he told me that as he is doing commentary together with Clarke in Mumbai on April 20th, he asked me to send the poster from Dubai to get the signature." Bhatia is now looking forward towards Clarke visiting his museum. "I am thankful to Sunny for arranging this meeting with Michael. I am hoping Michael visits the museum soon," added Bhatia  

Bhatia then revealed how he got the autograph of Dhoni. "I spoke to Kiran More when he was the coach of the Mumbai Indians. When Dhoni was playing in Mumbai I flew one of my office staff and got it autographed," said Bhatia.

 

Clarke had showcased his tactical brilliance as captain during Australia’s 2015 World Cup victory. I am delighted that I had the opportunity to report on that final from Melbourne, where Clarke scored 74 runs and guided Australia to a seven-wicket win over New Zealand. I was one among the 93,013 spectators who witnessed that match, and Bhatia—who never misses a World Cup final—was also present. To now have the captain who sparkled in that final sign the poster is yet another feather in Bhatia’s museum cap.