Cars n' cricket

Who gets to keep the cars and motors won by opposition players for man-of-the-match on foreign soil? These are questions going through my mind when, say, the likes of Matthew Hoggard picked up a motorbike in Nagpur a few years ago.

So local manufacturers would have been pleased when Gautam Gambhir picked up a white Maruti for his 52-ball 63 on Saturday in the first Twenty20 in India.

And here are two more classic images of past players with their booty. Ravi Shastri for his Champion of Champions performance in 1985 in Australia.

And the West Indies receiving a vehicle-of-its-time for an unknownTest victory.

Shastri's Audi moment

They say the best things come to those that wait.

So confident was Malcolm Marshall of success against India in the 1983 World Cup Final, he ordered a spanking new BMW as a gift to himself before Kapil Dev duly lifted the trophy.

Two years later, Ravi Shastri didn't even have to phone the car dealer. India's legendary all-rounder won an Audi 100 for his 'Champion of Champions' man of the series effort in Australia in 1985. Today marks the 21st anniversary and his prize still takes pride and joy in his front drive.

Shastri had a slow start to the tournament, which also featured Pakistan, but soon found his gear as he finished with 182 runs and 8 wickets as India beat Pakistan in the final.

After learning of his prize, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi waived the heavy duty on the Audi's import and Shastri took full advantage.

"Initially I was over possessive about it," said Shastri a few years ago. "I was always watching her with eagle eyes just to make sure no one touched her."