Former India Spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan Opens Up About Racism in Early Career
Former India cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has bravely shared distressing accounts of racism he encountered during his formative years in the sport, including within the Indian team environment. In a candid interview, the leg-spinner, who represented India in 25 international matches, detailed how these experiences profoundly impacted his self-esteem and confidence as a young player.
A Stark Contrast: West Indies Warmth vs. Indian Discrimination
Sivaramakrishnan, who made his Test debut in Antigua in April 1983 at just 17 years and 118 days old, highlighted a striking dichotomy in his early experiences. He expressed feeling more comfortable and accepted during his tours in the Caribbean than within his own national team setup.
"In West Indies I was treated very well even by the opposition," Sivaramakrishnan recalled. "My best friends were Desmond Haynes and the late Malcolm Marshall. They used to take me out almost every evening during Test matches."
The former spinner elaborated on how these West Indies legends showed him genuine hospitality, taking him around Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados, and even inviting him to Marshall's home to watch classic West Indies cricket matches. This welcoming atmosphere stood in sharp contrast to what he faced back home.
Painful Incidents Within Indian Cricket Circles
Sivaramakrishnan recounted specific instances of discrimination that left lasting scars. As a teenage net bowler, he described an incident where a senior Indian player mistakenly identified him as ground staff and demanded he clean his shoes.
"I just looked at him and said, 'That's none of my business,'" Sivaramakrishnan remembered, demonstrating early resilience against such treatment.
Another particularly hurtful moment occurred during the 1983 tour of Pakistan when captain Sunil Gavaskar arranged a birthday cake for the young spinner. According to Sivaramakrishnan, a teammate made a racially charged remark about the cake's color matching his skin tone.
"Hey Sunny, you ordered the right colour cake. Such a dark chocolate cake for a dark boy," the teammate reportedly said, turning what should have been a celebratory moment into one of humiliation.
Broader Experiences of Racism and Their Lasting Impact
The discrimination extended beyond the dressing room to domestic and international matches, where Sivaramakrishnan faced derogatory comments from crowds about his skin color. These repeated experiences took a significant psychological toll on the young cricketer.
"Because of my darkness, people would dismiss me. There was a sense of hurt every time this happened," he confessed. "All these things put me in a position where I had very low self-esteem at a tender age... it is very hard to build confidence."
Sivaramakrishnan emphasized that while he tried to forget these incidents, they remained deeply rooted, occasionally resurfacing throughout his life and career.
Shared Understanding with West Indies Legends
Interestingly, Sivaramakrishnan found unexpected solidarity with West Indies batsman Gordon Greenidge, known for his reserved demeanor. Greenidge opened up to the young Indian spinner about his own experiences with racism during his time in England.
"He had personally told me that this is what I went through in England and that's why I just mind my business, play my cricket and just go," Sivaramakrishnan revealed, highlighting how racism transcends national boundaries in cricket.
This shared understanding with Caribbean players who had faced similar prejudices made their acceptance and friendship even more meaningful to Sivaramakrishnan during his challenging early career.
