Gavaskar said home fans supporting their team is not an Indian phenomena.
Gavaskar cited the example of the ongoing Ashes 2023 and Wimbledon Championship to validate his point that the English fans cheer wildly when their own players dominate but offer ‘perfunctory applause’ when the opposition is winning.
The former India captain has no problem with home fans and media giving special treatment to their own players.
“The All England Tennis Championships at Wimbledon have also started and as always, the TV coverage as well as the media reports are mainly about the English players. This is totally understandable as the tournament is in England. The crowd too applauding raucously every winner by the English player is also perfectly understood," Gavaskar wrote in his column for the mid-day.
He further pointed out how the overseas commentators express their displeasure when the Indian fans go ‘quiet’ after seeing the poor performance of their team.
“What bugs is the condescending way overseas commentators, when they come to India, keep saying how quiet the Indian crowd at the ground is when an Indian batter gets out or when an Indian bowler is hit for a boundary. This is not an Indian phenomena, but happens in every country where home crowds keep silent when a boundary is hit against their bowlers or their batters get out," he wrote.
During the second Ashes Test at Lord’s last week, Australian players were subject to loud boos by the home fans after Alex Carey stumped out the wandering Jonny Bairstow.
“Nowhere has it been more apparent than at the current Ashes series as also at Wimbledon where every point won by a Brit is cheered wildly while a point won by another gets a perfunctory applause from a few of his/her countrymen at the court," Gavaskar wrote.
“It’s only natural that the crowds will support their own team and won’t cheer the opponents, but to suggest that it happens only in India is ridiculous," he added.