"Even the World Cups look insipid in front of the IPL" : Sunil Gavaskar

[The Googly]

I'd take Gavaskar's idea of fun with a pinch of salt. This is the guy who played the most boring innings in the history of cricket - 36* in 60 overs in the 1975 World Cup. Of course Indians will find IPL more fun now- the've just been marmalized in the first two games and are on the verge of exiting the competition. Losing to your biggest rivals and exiting a major tournament does tend to take the fun factor out I guess. Rest assured these comments would not have been even dreamt about if India were doing well in the WC. Anyway - I can assure you Mr Gavaskar, that England, SA, Aus, Pak, NZ, Afghans, Namibians, Scots will not be agreeing with your silly assessment so keep crying! lol

On a side note, this is exactly why IPL is damaging Indian cricket (apart from financially). Indian kids grow up wanting to play IPL not represent their country. And as this WC has shown, quality of IPL is not all that is it? Chin up Indians. When or if we lose in this WC, hopefully we will show more dignity .

 

[zulfiqar]

Gavaskar may believe what he says - but timing matters, and any average person listening to his comments coming after 2 losses will believe that he's being a sore loser and would not have made such comments had India been winning. If he had said this on the back of 2 wins, or before the tournament started, i.e. "Whether or not India win or lose, this WT20 is not on par with IPL", we would've accepted it at face value. In fact, he could've said this after the Pakistan loss too, but instead then he said "Don't worry India will bounce back." And after the 2nd loss all of a sudden he doesn't care that this tournament is even happening? Lmao give me a break!

 

[zulfiqar]

Having said that, the sad truth is if BCCI decides to devaluate international tournaments in favor of domestic tournaments, they will very likely be successful as they have an enormous say in the future of our sport. In the current climate, cricket practically has no future (or limited and unprofitable future) without India.

 

[The Googly]

If anything, the lustre of IPL will reduce after this World Cup. No other country would remotely consider prioritising a domestic tournament over international competition. Also, trust me India is hurting big time and genuine Indian cricket fans would in no way rate IPL over Indian winning a World Cup. So treat this outburst as a laugh and enjoy it. It's called 'Sour Grapes' and crying.

 

[Stewie]

IPL is not as high quality as international cricket. If it was India would have won a lot more T20s and world T20s after their first win over ten years ago.

Apart from financial benefits they are reaping, it’s not making too much difference to their overall skills or helping them compete with the other top teams in the world.

 

[IMMY69]

IPL is not as high quality as international cricket. If it was India would have won a lot more T20s and world T20s after their first win over ten years ago.

Apart from financial benefits they are reaping, it’s not making too much difference to their overall skills or helping them compete with the other top teams in the world.

Mate even one of the Indian fans here agreed that it's just Bollywood entertainment.
It's Mickey Mouse cricket where mediocre players get rich for just turning up.

So blame really goes to the Indian people. They clearly have no desire for proper cricket and as long as they watch this sort of rubbish then they'll continue to be taken for a ride.

 

[The Googly]

Has anyone seen the documentary on Netflix (or prime) on Mumbai Indians? Please watch. It's a hoot. The owners are embarrasing and watching them get involved in team talks is cringeworthy. IPL has made many very average players very wealthy and good luck to them. But do not tell me that IPL has improved the quality of Indian cricket or that the people who make the money put it into the grass roots of Indian cricket. The BCCI is a money making machine and IPL has helped them to virtually control world cricket. But it will have a degrading effect on the quality of indian cricket and you are starting to see this in this WC. Firstly, the average indian kid wants to play IPL and not play for his country. Secondly, it will reduce the hunger of players to play the longer format and hence their skillset will be lacking. And finally, playing just IPL only will reduce the exposure of these players to other formats and to other leagues and gain their skillset will reduce.

 

[IMMY69]

Has anyone seen the documentary on Netflix (or prime) on Mumbai Indians? Please watch. It's a hoot. The owners are embarrasing and watching them get involved in team talks is cringeworthy. IPL has made many very average players very wealthy and good luck to them. But do not tell me that IPL has improved the quality of Indian cricket or that the people who make the money put it into the grass roots of Indian cricket. The BCCI is a money making machine and IPL has helped them to virtually control world cricket. But it will have a degrading effect on the quality of indian cricket and you are starting to see this in this WC. Firstly, the average indian kid wants to play IPL and not play for his country. Secondly, it will reduce the hunger of players to play the longer format and hence their skillset will be lacking. And finally, playing just IPL only will reduce the exposure of these players to other formats and to other leagues and gain their skillset will reduce.

So if a legend like Gavaskar says IPL is in the pinnacle and calls the World Cup insipid, what does that teach their kids?

 

[RexRex]

Gavaskar gets paid about 3 crores anually by BCCI for his commentary work, which you can't say for any other commentator in world cricket. It's sad to see him sacrifice his principles and think national duty doesn't matter anymore.
Even as bcci point man, I would've been more creative with my excuses like say blaming toss or fatigue.

 

[from_da_lost_dim3nsion]

Hota hia , Hota hia .....Jab dil pe chot lagti hai to uska asar seedha dimagh pe hota hai .

 

[Savak]

Gavaskar gets paid about 3 crores anually by BCCI for his commentary work, which you can't say for any other commentator in world cricket. It's sad to see him sacrifice his principles and think national duty doesn't matter anymore.
Even as bcci point man, I would've been more creative with my excuses like say blaming toss or fatigue.

Lol I remember a while back the BCCI suspended Gavaskar from commentary duties and he started coming out with actual criticisms against the BCCI, Indian players

 

[Savak]

Funny how the WC becomes irrelevant when India does poorly in it and becomes the holy grail when India wins it

 

[PerfectionPersonified]

if he meant Fun ofcourse franchise cricket is more fun. Kids love circus

 

[street cricketer]

Being the devil's advocate here, I'm not talking about the quality, but this WC has been insipid to watch in my opinion where 150 has been the par score, there not being a single high scoring match between two top teams and toss having an undue effect on teams' decisions whether to bat or bowl first.

Yes I know a good cricket team needs to be able to play on all surfaces, but let's be honest, T20 cricket is the most entertaining on flat surfaces where 4s and 6s are easy to hit and not on surfaces where teams crawl to 50 in the first 10 overs including the powerplay on very slow surfaces. But the BCCI deserves full blame though because it could have scheduled it in England where the ball comes on to the bat a lot better and where T20 cricket is generally more entertaining, even South Africa would have been a great venue (Ideally Aus would be great, but I'm not talking about Australia as I don't think the Aus government would have allowed it to happen and besides the next WT20 is scheduled there anyway).

 

[sweep_shot]

He is comparing a domestic tournament to a World Cup.

Shocking.

 

[Hasan]

Gavaskar trying to shine a piece of **** that is team India’s performance in this WC. The amount invested in the WC by BCCI is massive and sadly they have very little to show for it. Worst still the platform they have paid for his been used to showcase Pakistani talent. That burns…..

 

[MP2011]

Poor comments from Sunny and poorly timed too. Will look like sour grapes. Had he said this after India won this T20 WC then they would have made perfect sense especially for Sunny.

 

[Varun]

Gavaskar gets paid about 3 crores anually by BCCI for his commentary work, which you can't say for any other commentator in world cricket. It's sad to see him sacrifice his principles and think national duty doesn't matter anymore.
Even as bcci point man, I would've been more creative with my excuses like say blaming toss or fatigue.

The only leeway I'll give Gavaskar is that he played in an era when there was no money in the game at all, so if he has to earn any serious money while looking/sounding like a fool, it is now.

 

[RexRex]

The only leeway I'll give Gavaskar is that he played in an era when there was no money in the game at all, so if he has to earn any serious money while looking/sounding like a fool, it is now.

Sure, let him earn ze money. I didn't expect an ultra-nationalist like him to downplay a world cup though and say the IPL is better.

 

[jaisan]

100% true. T20 needs role specific players. Indian team has 2 or 3 players doing the same roles. Team is extremely unbalanced and getting wasted by teams having role specific players.

 

[IMMY69]

Being the devil's advocate here, I'm not talking about the quality, but this WC has been insipid to watch in my opinion where 150 has been the par score, there not being a single high scoring match between two top teams and toss having an undue effect on teams' decisions whether to bat or bowl first.

Yes I know a good cricket team needs to be able to play on all surfaces, but let's be honest, T20 cricket is the most entertaining on flat surfaces where 4s and 6s are easy to hit and not on surfaces where teams crawl to 50 in the first 10 overs including the powerplay on very slow surfaces. But the BCCI deserves full blame though because it could have scheduled it in England where the ball comes on to the bat a lot better and where T20 cricket is generally more entertaining, even South Africa would have been a great venue (Ideally Aus would be great, but I'm not talking about Australia as I don't think the Aus government would have allowed it to happen and besides the next WT20 is scheduled there anyway).

Then he should have qualified all this.
Also he should have said both were insipid as the IPL also produced low scores in the UAE leg of the tournament.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

IPL is for those who can't take the pressure of highly intensed International matches. There is a reason IPL fans have 2-3 favorite teams. There is no loyalty in them. Gavaskar has totally lost his mind.