Legendary Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar has said that financial security provided by T20 leagues is allowing batsmen to play an aggressive brand of cricket from the word go which was not common during the times he played. Gavaskar was asked if better protective equipment was encouraging batsmen to play more aggressively than before.
During a recent conversation with Ashis Ray organized by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TIE) London, Sunil Gavaskar said, “It is not just the protective gear. I think it is the cushion that they have in terms of the T20 leagues that they can be part of. When we played, whatever income we got, 500 rupees or when I finished playing cricket, it was 5,000 rupees for a Test match, that was extra income for us.”
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He further added, “If we didn’t do well, we were dropped from the Test team. We had to go back to our jobs — with Tatas, Railways, Air India, Steel Authority of India — 9 to 5 job. Today that worry or fear is not there. You have the IPL, the Big Bash, there is also the Hundred. Though Big Bash and Hundred don’t pay as much, there is that cushion.”
Talking about the freedom being enjoyed by the batsmen, Sunil Gavaskar said, “So there is not a worry. The batsman thinks, “I’ll go bang-bang. So what if I score quick runs, I get out. Never mind”. That cushion. It is a mental thing. Why would you go bang, bang unless you know you have got something waiting for you. That is the way I look at it.”
Sunil Gavaskar has never been known for mincing his words when it comes to the current Indian cricket team. Speaking of their performance in their recent Test match, Gavaskar reckons that India has given England a “psychological blow”.
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According to Sunil Gavaskar, England is too reliant on Joe Root in terms of batting. Therefore, they need to put in a “superhuman effort” to make a comeback and beat India. India will face England in the third Test beginning on Wednesday, August 25, 2021.
