Sunil Gavaskar, the legendary Indian cricketer and now a seasoned commentator, couldn’t hide his frustration when fellow commentator Dinesh Karthik brought up India’s upcoming tour of Australia during the ongoing second Test between India and New Zealand. The conversation occurred on Day 2 as New Zealand extended their lead over India, inching toward what could be a series-defining lead.
With India trying to save both the Test and the series, Gavaskar took issue with the attention shifting prematurely to the upcoming Australia series, seeing it as an unnecessary distraction when India was still locked in a crucial contest. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, contested between India and Australia, is indeed a monumental affair, and this year’s series will be unique, stretching across five Tests—a rarity for these sides in recent decades.
Starting on November 22 in Perth, it’s already a highly anticipated showdown. Yet, for Gavaskar, the hype should wait. As Karthik mentioned, “There is a big series coming up against Australia as well,” Sunil Gavaskar was quick to interrupt. “Don’t talk about Australia now. That’s a mistake people make often. You’ve got to worry about what’s happening now. Your focus should be only on the present. Australia will take care of itself.”
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Sunil Gavaskar’s comments underscore his belief that each series deserves full focus, unclouded by what’s on the horizon. The current series against New Zealand, where India is fighting hard to maintain an 18-series winning streak at home, is a test of resilience and grit. With New Zealand’s score surpassing a 300-run lead, the focus should be squarely on the ongoing match, not on the glamour of the next series.
For Gavaskar, this premature shift of attention undermines the intensity of the current series and sets a dangerous precedent in sports media coverage. He pointed out that the distraction isn’t coming from the players, who remain locked into the game in progress, but from the media and the surrounding cricketing fraternity, who are already analyzing team selections and predicting outcomes for the Australia series.
Sunil Gavaskar rightly shut-up Dinesh Karthik in the commentary box who was saying “there’s a series coming up in Australia” and Sunil replied “don’t talk about series in Australia, focus on the present series”
— Faraz Baig (@faraz9994) October 25, 2024
Sunil Gavaskar has been vocal about this in the past, noting that Australian players and former players regularly offer unsolicited advice on how India should shape its lineup or strategy. He argued that if Australian veterans feel entitled to comment on Indian selections, then perhaps Indian veterans should be given the same license to comment on Australia’s lineup.
The India-Australia rivalry, often likened to The Ashes in terms of prestige, should not detract from India’s present challenges. Gavaskar stressed that every series, regardless of the opponent, deserves to be taken on its own merit. While the Australia tour will bring its excitement and intensity, New Zealand, too, deserves the full respect and attention of fans, players, and commentators alike.
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It’s a sentiment that echoes his broader philosophy on the game: take one match at a time, without letting future series overshadow the current battle on the field. In an era of endless media coverage and anticipatory hype, Gavaskar’s stance calls for a more grounded, present-focused approach. His reminder serves not only as a call for respect toward the current series but also as a reminder that true sportsmanship means valuing each contest fully, regardless of what’s next on the schedule.
