• Sportzyverse
• IPL 2024
• 05/05/2024
• 0 Comments

While Virat Kohli ‘s remarks garnered attention, they also drew criticism from Gavaskar, who took exception to Kohli’s dismissive attitude towards former players and experts analysing the game. Gavaskar condemned Kohli’s comments as an insult to the knowledge and experience of cricketing pundits, emphasising the importance of respecting diverse perspectives within the cricketing community.

“All these guys talk about, ‘oh we don’t care about outside noise’. Accha! Then why are you replying to any outside noise or whatever it is. We all played a bit of cricket, not a lot of cricket. We don’t have agendas. We speak about what we see. We don’t necessarily have any likes and dislikes. Even if we have likes and dislikes, we actually speak on what is happening,” Gavaskar said.

Sunil Gavaskar's brutal thrashing of Virat Kohli.. 🔥🔥
Chokli deserved it for behaving like a sore loser attacking commentators and questioning their cricketing knowledge. This is the reason why Kohli is not respected as much as Dhoni or Sachin pic.twitter.com/i9kZDWTxJb

— mvrkguy (@mvrkguy) May 4, 2024

Additionally, Pakistan veteran Wasim Akram weighed in on the controversy, offering support to Virat Kohli and questioning the validity of the criticism directed towards him. Akram argued that Kohli’s individual brilliance should not be overshadowed by RCB’s team performance and underscored the pressure faced by Virat Kohli amidst inconsistent team displays.

“If you look at this IPL, it feels like it’s over. The way teams are scoring 270s, it looks like it. People are calling an anchor slow even when the strike rate is 150. When you look at the pitches and the performances, it looks like it. You got to hit from the first ball, you can’t stop,” said Akram.

Gavaskar’s rebuke of Kohli’s interview highlighted broader tensions surrounding player-media relations and the role of broadcasters in shaping public discourse. Gavaskar expressed disappointment with IPL’s official broadcasters for repeatedly airing Kohli’s interview, suggesting that such actions undermine the credibility of commentators and perpetuate discord within the cricketing fraternity.

Also read Virat Kohli Responds to Strike-Rate Criticism After Match-Winning Knock

The exchange between Virat Kohli and Gavaskar reflects deeper concerns about balancing player autonomy and media scrutiny in professional cricket. While players like Kohli seek to prioritise on-field performance over external criticism, commentators like Gavaskar advocate for constructive dialogue and mutual respect among stakeholders in the sport.

In conclusion, while debates over player performance and media coverage are inevitable in professional sports, it is imperative for all parties involved to uphold the values of integrity, professionalism, and sportsmanship that define the spirit of cricket. Only through open dialogue and constructive engagement can cricket thrive as a beloved global sport.