Cricket legend, Sunil Gavaskar, stole the spotlight at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, not for his iconic commentary or batting records, but for his heartwarming interaction with Champak, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) robotic dog.
The 75-year-old former Indian captain was caught on camera engaging in a playful dance with the high-tech canine before Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) match, delighting fans and sparking a social media frenzy.
The introduction of Robot Dog in IPL 2025
Champak, a four-legged robot introduced in the cash-rich league in 2025 to enhance fan engagement, it is a four-legged robot named via fan poll. Equipped with cameras for a dog-eyed view, it can also carry a load up to 14 kg. Moreover, the robo dog is capable of gestures like jumps and handshakes. Chamak has become a viral sensation with many cricketing stars have played out some fun interaction with it, including the World Cup winning-captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Gavaskar, known for his stoic demeanor, surprised everyone by mimicking the robot’s movements—jumping, waving, and even running as Champak followed him off the field. The lighthearted moment went quickly viral on social media showcasing Gavaskar’s jovial side, contrasting his reputation as a fierce critique. A user posted on X with a caption, “SUNNY G GOT MOVES AT 75 AGE”.
Here’s the video:
SUNNY G GOT MOVES AT 75 AGE. 😂🔥
Sunil Gavaskar playing with Champak. 🐕 pic.twitter.com/IVwcoPWOv1
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 24, 2025
RCB open their account at Chinnaswamy
Meanwhile, the clash between RCB and RR went into RCB’s way as Virat Kohli and Josh Hazlewood turned out to be too good for the visitors. Batting first, RCB made a total of 205 in their stipulated 20 overs. In reply, RR despite being 110/3 after 9 overs, fell short of the target by 11 runs. The win in Bengaluru made RCB climb to the third position in the points table.
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