Sachin’s Hilarious Dig at Steve Bucknor: ‘Give Him Boxing Gloves....'

Sachin Tendulkar, widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in cricket history, faced some of the most controversial umpiring decisions of his career from West Indies official Steve Bucknor. Over a 24-year international career, Tendulkar scored 34,357 runs across formats and 100 centuries, but even these feats could not shield him from questionable calls on the field.

“Boxing Gloves for the Umpire!”

During a Reddit Ask Me Anything session, Tendulkar was asked about his true feelings toward Bucknor. With his trademark humor, he replied: “When I am batting, give him boxing gloves to wear so he can’t raise his finger.” This witty remark summed up years of on-field frustration while keeping Tendulkar’s sense of humor intact.

The Gabba 2003 and Eden Gardens 2005 Controversies

Cricket fans still remember the infamous moments at the 2003 Gabba Test and the 2005 Eden Gardens clash. In both matches, Bucknor’s decisions left players, fans, and commentators stunned, with Tendulkar being given out in situations that were widely debated. These calls became part of cricket folklore, highlighting the fine line between human error and controversy.

Bucknor Admits His Mistakes

Steve Bucknor has openly acknowledged his errors. Speaking on the Mason and Guests radio programme in Barbados, he said:

“Tendulkar was given out on two occasions by mistake. No umpire wants to make a wrong decision, but it happens. Those moments stay with you and can affect your future career.”

Bucknor also reflected on the 2005 India vs Pakistan Test match, admitting an edge call off Abdul Razzaq’s delivery was wrong. “Once in Australia, I gave him out LBW when the ball was going over the top. Another time in India, it was called caught behind, but there was no edge. At Eden Gardens, with 100,000 fans roaring, it’s impossible to hear anything. Mistakes are part of life.”

Records That Outshine Controversy

Despite these incidents, Tendulkar’s career remained legendary:

Format	Runs	Average	Centuries
Tests	15,921	53.78	51
ODIs	18,426	44.83	49

Legacy Beyond the Umpire’s Finger

The Tendulkar–Bucknor saga remains one of cricket’s most talked-about controversies. It serves as a reminder that even the greatest players must navigate human error on the field—and Tendulkar handled it with humor, grace, and, of course, unparalleled skill.