Sunil Gavaskar is receiving flak over social media for an inappropriate remark made during an India Today show following the untimely passing of legendary Australian legspinner Shane Warne on Friday (March 4) evening. Sitting as a guest on the show hosted by prominent Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, Gavaskar was paying tribute to the great Warne […]
Sunil Gavaskar is receiving flak over social media for an inappropriate remark made during an India Today show following the untimely passing of legendary Australian legspinner Shane Warne on Friday (March 4) evening.
Sitting as a guest on the show hosted by prominent Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, Gavaskar was paying tribute to the great Warne for his excellence in the game of cricket, before a comment on living life “king-size” seemed a bit distasteful.
“He was always full of life,” Sunil Gavaskar started off to a query when Sardesai asked him to recall any of his favourite moments working with Warne post his retirement in the commentary box.
Gavaskar spoke of how Warne was always the first one to reach out to his him and his other fellow colleagues in the evenings following matches for drinks and dinners.
“He was looking to live life king-size”, Gavaskar termed it, adding: “Maybe, because he lived life in such a manner, is perhaps why his heart couldn’t take it and he died so soon”, with the reference to his heart-attack.
WATCH: Fans Remember Shane Warne’s Ball Of The Century As He Passes Away
Sunil Gavaskar made a pair of contentious remarks on Shane Warne’s passing.
Sunil Gavaskar also got his timing wrong with regards to a comment on Shane Warne and his record against India, stating that he believes Muttiah Muralitharan was the better spinner.
Sardesai asked Gavaskar if he believes Warne is the greatest spinner he has seen? To which, the legendary batter gave an overly honest response, without perhaps keeping in mind the occasion, and said since Warne struggled against his Indian counterparts, he would rate him a spot below Muralitharan.
“No, I wouldn’t say that (call Warne the greatest),” Gavaskar said. “For me, the Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were better than Shane Warne. Because look at Shane Warne’s record against India. It was pretty ordinary against India. In India, he got five wickets only once in Nagpur (2004).”
Gavaskar indirectly belittled Warne’s five-fer on the 2004 trip to India, stating he was the consultant of the Indian team and had given the side a direct target not to concede a five-wicket haul to the Aussie legspinner. He added he was very disappointed by the shot Zaheer Khan played to get out and give him that milestone.
Shane Warne’s passing away is a big shock….He mastered the art which is very difficult to master which is leg spin: Sunil Gavaskar. #NewsToday #Cricket #RIPShaneWarne | @sardesairajdeep pic.twitter.com/6KqSHf6Tes
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) March 4, 2022
While one can understand Gavaskar doesn’t mean harm to Warne’s image and was only responding to the question put across him, it was inarguably the case of bad-timing from the former India skipper and his remarks could’ve been more layered and censored.
Fans also didn’t mince words and expressed their dismay and displeasure over Sunil Gavaskar’s remarks over Twitter.
Here is how few of them reacted:
While there is outrage about Gavaskar’s questionable opinion on SKW being the greatest spinner, I found his preceding answer more distasteful. He essentially said “Warne’s excessive lifestyle took his life”. Very loose and unfounded remark while paying tribute. https://t.co/VS5una7KCy
— iErr (@vivekiyer20) March 5, 2022
Speechless….. https://t.co/H2SEa2sIN3
— Arvind (@Blxckmass9397) March 5, 2022
Imagine what will be going through Gideon head. https://t.co/nyd2R3DArn
— Hussain (@jrmadrid_1) March 5, 2022
This was highly insensitive and embarassing
https://t.co/38cPDsxtNN
— Vivek V (@VivekV93) March 5, 2022
Stop comparing!!! He is dead..#ShaneWarne https://t.co/5x01h9QGoA
— Arun (@KfiTalks) March 5, 2022
Utterly embarrassing from Sunny G
— Ramesh Panchal (@RameshP00463677) March 5, 2022
A legendary cricketer and charismatic figure, who mesmerised and inspired a generation of cricket lovers, Warne retired back in 2007 after an illustrious 15-year-long career. He took over 1,000 international wickets for Australia and is their highest-ever Test wicket holder with 708 scalps.
