This business of 'India bashing' has to be countered with aggression, Says Gavaskar

Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar feels that the business of India-bashing needs to be countered with some aggression, taking umbrage at the recent comments made on the likelihood of Joe Root surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as the leading run-getter in men's Test cricket.

In an episode of the Club Prairie Fire podcast, former England captain Michael Vaughan had said that it's just a matter of time when Root becomes the leading run-getter in Tests. At the same time, he added that BCCI will do everything possible in its power to ensure that the record stays with an Indian batter.

I can say with experience over 50 years that it is not Indian crowds that remain silent when their team is not doing well but the crowds in every country do so. When there is some noise if India, say, is doing well overseas, it's because of the number of Indian supporters who travel long distances from India and cheer for them, not the locals.

"So next time, when some commentator or media person from overseas tries to talk about the silence of the Indian crowd when India is not doing well, we should ask them why their supporters haven't come to cheer for their team. This business of India bashing has to be countered with aggression because that's the only language they understand.

Recently, I heard a person saying it would be good for Test cricket if Joe Root overtook Sachin Tendulkar's record for most runs and centuries in Test match cricket. Please tell us what's wrong with Test cricket presently when Tendulkar is owning the record, and how will Test cricket be better if and that's a huge if an Englishman goes on to hold it. How is it going to be any different? Please enlighten us," wrote Gavaskar in his Sportstar column on Thursday.
He was also surprised that how BCCI does not like Test cricket when India are playing a number of red-ball cricket in a year. "For some strange reason, there's a perception overseas that BCCI does not like Test cricket.".

That's a farcical idea, as India play more than half a dozen Test matches every season, be it at home or away. Just because IPL is immensely successful doesn't mean BCCI are not interested in promoting Test cricket, but that's the narrative which is being peddled by the overseas media.

Gavaskar signed off saying one should wait and watch whether or not the venue for the final of the 2025 World Test Championship will be shifted from Lord's. "The ICC just announced that the WTC final will be played at Lord's next June. Well, we have heard this announcement twice earlier, but the moment it is perceived that England won't make it to the final, the venue is changed to Southampton or The Oval in London.

"Now that England is winning more Test matches in this period, and there's a good chance they may get into the final, we have been told the final will be at Lord's. Let's see. As the old Indian saying goes, DILLI (Lord's) abhi bhi door hai."