Kapil Dev vs Dawood Ibrahim: The Untold Dressing Room Incident
In the 1980s, Dawood Ibrahim allegedly infiltrated cricket and parts of Bollywood, highlighting the underworld’s influence on sports and entertainment at the time.
In the 1980s, Dawood Ibrahim was a powerful name linked to Mumbai’s underworld—and his presence wasn’t limited to the streets. He was often spotted at high-profile India–Pakistan matches in Sharjah, where influence and glamour met.
During the 1986 series, he reportedly entered the Indian dressing room, introduced by actor Mehmood as a businessman.
There, he allegedly offered the Indian team a Toyota Corolla each if they won the final. The room fell silent—until captain Kapil Dev walked in, unaware of who Dawood was, and firmly asked him to leave, simply upholding team rules.
Beyond cricket, Dawood’s network reportedly extended into parts of Bollywood in the late ’80s and early ’90s. At a time when formal financing was scarce, underworld money found its way into films—sometimes bringing influence, pressure, and alleged extortion along with it.
After the 1993 Bombay bombings, investigations intensified, revealing links in certain pockets of the industry. Still, much of Bollywood remained independent, untouched by such influence.
