Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on overseas greats who comment on the Indian cricket team’s selection. In his column for The Sportstar, Gavaskar asserted that these former players have “zero stake in Indian cricket” and should mind their own business.
Gavaskar’s comments come in the wake of a debate sparked by the exclusion of Shreyas Iyer from India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. While the snub has been a topic of much discussion among Indian experts and fans, it also drew criticism from foreign cricketers like Brad Haddin and AB de Villiers, who both expressed surprise at the decision.
A Question of Motives
Without naming them directly, Gavaskar’s column was a clear response to the comments made by Haddin and de Villiers. He questioned why foreign cricketers, who rarely comment on their own national teams’ selections, feel the need to criticize India’s choices. He suggested that this behavior is driven by a desire for personal engagement and to gain followers on social media platforms like YouTube and podcasts.
“Today, in the days of public media, where getting views and followers is the theme, one of the fastest ways to increase the numbers is by commenting on matters Indian,” Gavaskar wrote. He added that such comments are often negative to provoke a large reaction from Indian fans, which in turn boosts their follower count.
A Critique of the Indian Media
Gavaskar also placed some blame on the Indian media, accusing them of seeking “validation” from overseas players. He criticized the practice of chasing down former foreign cricketers for interviews on Indian team selections, even when those players are “almost forgotten” in their own countries.
The debate over the Asia Cup squad has been heated, particularly regarding the surprising omission of Shreyas Iyer, who had a stellar IPL 2025 season, leading his team Punjab Kings to the final. The BCCI selection committee chairman, Ajit Agarkar, has faced significant criticism from both Indian and foreign commentators over the decision to select Shubman Gill over Iyer.