Jhakas | Sanjay Jha
I think former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar was being deliberately provocative when he for the umpteenth time raised the hackneyed issue of Australian sledging on-field, and unnecessarily created a hullabaloo even as the World Cup 2007 has just begun to simmer. I strongly feel this was a ham-handed effort at boosting TRP ratings for a TV channel that he religiously represents. Sunny Bhai is fully aware of the international brouhaha he had created the last time ( about 3 years ago) he had uttered exactly similar sentiments against the men from Down Under. So as he suavely nuanced his extreme disapproval of Aussie boorishness , he knew that next day the whole world will consume his delectable dish with relish. Pushing mid-50s, but Gavaskar is a wily customer.
But first things first. Sunny has said nothing new; it is not a bombshell like former President Bill Clinton making a pass at a sexy blue-dressed mannequin and getting away with it. Secondly, everyone knows that the Australians play tough, and are calculatedly nasty. I have argued vehemently in my columns repeatedly that instead of behaving like pip- squeak mice, what stops the other manly outfits from offering an equally hard-hitting blow back? Thirdly, Sunny was being extremely stupid to get into a verbal warfare with Ricky Ponting. Ponting’s generation has grown up idolizing Sunil; such pedestrian showmanship by Gavaskar reduces his own international stature . Most disappointingly, by dragging the name of the tragic David Hooke’s slaying incident, Gavaskar has added a sorry, vicious under-the-belt tinge to the entire episode. In fact, I won’t be surprised if the Australians think that Sunny is instigating a virulent ant-Australian backlash with malevolent intent both on-ground and off the field. And lastly, as a senior member of ICC, shouldn’t he be aware of the repercussions of his verbal diarrhea? Continue reading below
Considering his exalted reputation , this is most unbecoming of Sunil. At the time of World Cup, such pitiable controversies create a foul air and unwarranted bitterness. I know several of you will heap filthy abuse on me for writing this against our revered Sunil, but I think in the Indian media no one has the honesty or courage to tell Gavaskar that he should know where to draw the line. I won’t be surprised if such trashy talk even distracts Rahul Dravid and his team somewhat ( hopefully not ) !
Sunil should learn a few lessons from his amiable , extremely likeable son Rohan, who is transparently simple and down-to-earth. And when Gavaskar is not attempting another coup to push viewer-ship traffic for his TV channel he can reflect on the biggest stigma in the history of ODI cricket that belongs singularly to him ; 36 runs in 60 overs. Even a lazy tortoise could have done better.
When will the world ever know the truth about that, Sunil?
