‘No one cares. It’s not our style’: Gavaskar slams ex-Pakistan players for making ‘unflattering’ comments about Indian stars

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has slammed former Pakistan cricketers for making ‘uncomplimentary’ remarks about Indian cricketers, which he claims stems from the fact that players from both countries are barred from competing in the Indian Premier League. Over the years, the IPL has served as a catalyst in bringing players from various countries together, significantly reducing aggression between them. However, this does not imply that the IPL has extinguished the fire in these players’ bellies or dampened the level of competition among them, with Gavaskar putting his point across brilliantly.

The legendary Indian batter believes that, while the IPL has helped to bridge the global divide, there is always an exception, with Gavaskar pointing fingers at Pakistan. Except for the inaugural edition, cricketers from Pakistan have been barred from competing in the IPL due to political tensions between the two countries, according to Gavaskar, and this, he believes, has led to animosity.

“When two of the top-ranked teams face off, fireworks are bound to fly. However, since the IPL began, the animosity between players from the two teams has subsided significantly while the intensity has not, and that is exactly how it should be. Sharing the same locker room, hotels, and travelling to different venues for six weeks to play has allowed the players to get to know each other better and understand the various cultures, attitudes, and approaches to the game “Gavaskar wrote in his Mid-Day column.

“While banter between players will always exist, angry and sometimes vulgar exchanges are a thing of the past. If there are any such issues today, it is almost always between players who do not play in the IPL and thus harbour some resentment towards the Indian players who play against them. Some believe that their accomplishments are such that they should be compensated more than the Indian player, who earns millions through the IPL.”

Gavaskar’s remarks are in response to the ongoing Test series between India and Australia. Historically, tempers have flared between the two teams, including during the previous Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but there has been nothing of the sort this time around, with most of the buzz surrounding the series emanating from both countries’ media outlets. Gavaskar accused the media of “pulling players down,” pointing out how ex-cricketers, particularly from Pakistan, make it their mission to portray Indian cricketers in a negative light in order to gain social media traction.

“What the popularity of the game also does is encourage the media, particularly online media, to seek out more viewers or followers. As a result, anything relating to cricket, and particularly about Indian players, ends up in the public eye even if it denigrates them. That’s the sad part, especially when the views of those on the other side of the border appear in Indian media. It’s almost daily to hear some former player from across the border disparaging an Indian player and claiming that the Pakistani player is superior. What these guys don’t realise is that they will immediately receive a response from Indian fans who will defend their favourite player, increasing the former player’s followers from across the border,” Gavaskar added.

“It’s a trick they use because they know that saying unflattering things about Indian players, past or present, will increase their followers. Have you ever heard or read any Indian player, past or present, say anything negative about players from the other side of the border? Nobody cares, so no Indian I know has said anything about the players from the other side. It’s just not our style. If our online media ignores what is said across the border, it will cease to exist; however, our media will continue to publish it even if it is defaming a fellow Indian.”

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