Balasaheb Thackeray had the ability to bowl the common man over, thanks to his genuine love for the masses coupled with his sense of humour, avers cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar. He recalls the time when a known Indian cricketer approached Balasaheb to speak to the selectors as he was not in the team despite a great performance. Recalls Vengsarkar, "Balasaheb asked him to sit down as he was worked up.

The cricketer said No thanks Sir, I would like to stand. Balasaheb in his characteristic style asked him to sit at the moment, and stand at the pitch when he was playing, thereby lightening the situation immediately for all. Balasaheb had this uncanny ability to effortlessly dispell any difficult moment. Such was his aura."