Said why are you responding to any outside noise?
The scathing critique of the batting legend:
Gavaskar condemns Kohli’s outburst against commentators. In a startling turn of events, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar attacked Virat Kohli verbally in a way never seen before, objecting to the former Indian captain’s recent comments criticising pundits and analysts. When Kohli attacked people who question his strike rate and spin-playing skills in a pre-match interview, saying that only people who have gone through the hardships of the game can really understand his strategy, the dispute broke out.
A flurry of responses followed Kohli’s passionate speech, with Gavaskar spearheading the chorus denouncing the star batsman’s remarks. The illustrious cricketer, known for his candid remarks, saw Kohli’s outburst as a clear jab at the experience and understanding of former players who are now pundits.
Gavaskar’s Biting Retaliation
During the live broadcast of the IPL match between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Gavaskar delivered a stinging commentary. The batting legend launched a torrent of criticism at Kohli during his controversial interview, which was shown on two screens. He questioned the reasoning behind his comments and defended the objectivity of the commentary team. “When his strike rate reached 118, observers started to raise concerns. I’m not entirely certain. “I don’t watch many matches, so I’m not sure what other commentators have said,” Gavaskar retorted in response to Kohli’s claim that he was under continual scrutiny.
Protecting the Honesty of the Commentators
Gavaskar’s criticism went so far as to challenge Star Sports’s decision to show Kohli’s interview over and over again, saying it denigrated their own pundits. He claimed that the network should not air the clip again, expressing disgust at their decision.”I’m not sure it’s a good idea for Star Sports to show the guy insulting their own commentators. Thus, I believe Star Sports should realise that everyone has seen it enough times and understands it,” Gavaskar said, supporting the credibility of the commentary crew.
The “Outside Noise” Argument
An AnswerAmong Gavaskar’s most striking insights was his assessment of Kohli’s often-stated indifference to “outside noise.” Gavaskar viewed the former Indian captain’s repeated declarations that he is unaffected by outside criticism to be inconsistent, considering Kohli’s choice to address the criticism as it was perceived. “All these guys say is, ‘Oh we don’t mind the noise from outside.'” Yeah! So why are you responding to any outside sounds or other messages?” Gavaskar asked, drawing attention to the contradiction between Kohli’s words and deeds.
Maintaining the Objectivity of the Commentators
In addition to defending the commentary crew, Gavaskar emphasised their objectivity and absence of personal ambitions. He refuted the idea that pundits have hidden agendas or biases, saying, “We all played a little, not a lot, of cricket. Our agendas are not clear. We discuss what we observe. It’s not like we have preferences or dislikes. Regardless of our preferences, we genuinely discuss what is going on.”This declaration reaffirmed Gavaskar’s conviction that pundits, who are themselves ex-players, provide analysis based only on their observations and experiences, free from bias or personal grudges.