Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar found himself in hot water for his alleged sexist comments on air during the KXIP v RCB match in the ongoing IPL 2020. Gavaskar was commentating during the match and discussing Virat Kohli’s lack of match practice.
Kohli made just one run and before that had dropped two catches from centurion KL Rahul, leading to RCB chasing a mammoth 207-run target.
During the conversation in Hindi commentary, Gavaskar was discussing a viral video of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma, playing cricket in their building compound during the COVID-19 forced lockdown in Mumbai.
“Ab jo lockdown tha toh unhone sirf Anushka ke saath bowling ki practice ki hai, usse toh kuch bhi nahi banna”: Gavaskar was heard on air during the game while the cameras were on Kohli. Loosely translated into English it comes to - During the lockdown, Virat could only practice his batting to Anushka Sharma’s bowling, that couldn’t have helped much.
This led to a huge storm on social media which accused Gavaskar of being sexist and using derogatory terms towards Anushka Sharma. The actress also took to Instagram and took serious offense to what the former India captain allegedly said.
Now the legend himself clarified the issue and said that people completely misunderstood and misquoted him which had led to this controversy.
“As you hear from the commentary, Aakash and I were doing commentary for the Hindi channel. And Aakash was talking about the fact that there has been very little chance for proper practice for everybody. That has actually shown in the rustiness of some of the players in their first matches. Rohit didn't strike the ball well in his first match, MSD didn't strike the ball well, Virat also didn't strike the ball. Most of the batsmen have because of the lack of practice,” Gavaskar said to India Today.
IPL 2020: Twitterati demand Sunil Gavaskar's removal for his comments on Anushka Sharma
"That was the point that was being made. Virat also had no practice and the only practice that they had when they have seen them playing in their building compound and Anushka was bowling to him. That's what I said. That's the only bowling, I have not used any other word. She was bowling to him, that's all.
Where am I blaming her? Where am I being sexist in this? I am just stating what was seen in the video which was maybe recorded by somebody in the neighboring buildings and then put up. That's the only thing I am doing," Gavaskar further said.
"The point I am trying to make is that there was no practice for anybody, including Virat in the lockdown. I am not being sexist. If somebody, has interpreted it, what can I do? I would like to say it again. Where am I blaming her? I am not blaming her.
I am only saying that the video said that she was bowling to Virat. Virat has played only that bowling during the lockdown period. It's a tennis ball, a fun game that people have to pass time during the lockdown. That's all. Where am I blaming her for Virat's failures?,” Gavaskar clarified.
Gavaskar said that whenever Kohli scores a century nobody gives credit to Anushka Sharma for it and that he is one of the first to raise this issue whenever it crops up. He further added that he was always in favor of wives and girlfriends (WAGs) be allowed on tours with the players because cricket is also a profession for us just like everybody else.
"You know me, I am the one who has always batted for wives going with husbands on tour. I am the one that a normal guy going to the office for a 9-5 job, when he comes back home, he comes back to his wife. Similarly, cricketers, when they go out for a tour or even when they are playing at home, why can't they have their wives with them?
Because after their working hours are over, they have to get back to their wives like every other common man does. So I am not blaming her," Gavaskar added further.
(India Today inputs)
