Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday (July 12) slammed former England skipper Nasser Hussain for his statement that the Indian cricket team got tougher after Sourav Ganguly took charge of the side in early 2000s.
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In his fortnightly column published in mid-day, Gavaskar wrote: “Nasser went on to say that earlier, the team would be wishing the opposition good morning and smiling at them etc. See this perception: That if you are nice then you are weak. That unless you are in the face of the opposition, you are not tough.”
“Is he suggesting that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh to name just a few were not tough? That just because they went about their business without any chest-thumping, swearing, screaming and pumping their arms in obscene gestures, they were weak?” he added.
Gavaskar also reminded Hussain that India were winning series away from home in the 1970s and 1980s.
“And what does he know of toughness of the teams in the ‘70s and ‘80s which won overseas as well as at home to make that statement? Yes, Ganguly was a top captain, taking over the reins at a most delicate time in Indian cricket, but to say that earlier teams were not tough is nonsense.”
Gavaskar, who was the first player in history to aggregate 10,000 runs in Test cricket, further stated that he was sad no one challenged Hussain's view on the show.
"It's about time the TV guys stopped using head-nodders when aspersions are cast on our cricket history and use people who will stand up and counter this bullying which actually consolidates the perception that we are too nice and therefore not tough," he remarked.
Speaking on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected, Nasser weighed in over Ganguly’s greatness as captain last week and credited the current BCCI President for making India a tougher side.
"I have always said, and this is a generalisation, but I have always said about Ganguly, that he made India a tougher side. So, before Ganguly, there were very talented sides, but you felt they were also a nice side, very down to earth, would meet you with morning greetings, morning Nasser, it was a very pleasant experience.
"Playing against a Ganguly side, you knew you were in a battle, you knew that Ganguly understood the passion of Indian cricket fans and it wasn't just a game of cricket. It was more important than a game of cricket. He was feisty and he picked feisty cricketers whether it would be Harbhajan or Yuvraj or whoever - feisty in your face cricketers - that when you met him away from the game, were lovely, nice. Sourav's like that,” Hussain had said.
