Ke Liya’. Murali went all the way to Bombay to convince the cricketing legend of the idea to meet with Kamal in Madras. Gavaskar who normally had a solid defence was easily bowled over by Murali and came down to Madras soon after to meet with Kamal at the AVM studio.

Murali also introduced Gavaskar to the then TN CM MG Ramachandran here in Madras. When Murali introduced Gavaskar to the CM as ‘Ivan thaan our great cricketer Gavaskar’, MGR who believed in treating everyone with respect corrected him and asked him to refer to the cricket legend as ‘Ivar Gavaskar’ leaving Murali completely stumped!!

Logistics
Manager

For a decade
from 2003, he was the logistics manager of the Indian team and for a period of
5 years from 2009, the logistics manager ofthe ICC match officials in India.
Managing the logistics for the Indian team is a huge challenge but Murali
enjoyed it thoroughly and attained a VIP status where ever he went over the
last decade and a half.

When John
Wright landed for the first time in India for his interview for the coach’s
post, it was Murali who stood as guarantee for Wright ( who had come without
his Visa) at the airport and bailed him out of the tricky situation. When the
leading international stars landed in Hyderabad, it was Murali who secured them
a great ‘Golden' Jewellery deal.

Even the
usually stiff looking and rigid Chris Broad (Match Referee) was so impressed
with Murali’s role in managing the overseas umpires that he once surprisingly
tied a luxurious watch around his wrists right in front of the international
umpires leaving