Sunil Gavaskar Slams Critics for Targeting Indian Cricket After Eden Gardens Pitch Debate
Sunil Gavaskar has launched a fierce defense of Indian cricket, hitting back at foreign critics who have been vocal after India’s defeat to South Africa inside three days at the Eden Gardens. The loss, which saw India stumble while chasing 124, triggered widespread scrutiny over the nature of the Kolkata pitch. But Gavaskar believes this criticism is exaggerated and unfairly directed at Indian cricket.
Gavaskar Defends Indian Cricket Amid Pitch Controversy
In his strongly worded column, Gavaskar took a swipe at those he feels routinely target Indian conditions. His remarks indirectly referenced former England captain Michael Vaughan, who labelled the pitch “awful.” Gavaskar argued that the surface wasn’t unplayable and insisted that such reactions are part of a predictable pattern of criticism against Indian cricket.
“One of Ben Stokes’ Has-Beens” — Gavaskar Fires Back
Gavaskar mocked one particular critic, calling him “one of Ben Stokes’s has-beens”, before asserting that he himself has “been a has-been longer” yet still recognizes quality cricket. He highlighted Temba Bavuma’s gritty batting, praising his technique and temperament on a track that demanded patience rather than panic.
Bavuma Shows How Proper Test Batting Counters Tough Pitches
According to Gavaskar, Bavuma’s controlled bat speed and soft hands were examples of classical Test match batting — something modern players often abandon the moment a pitch isn’t flat. This, he said, exposed how unfairly Indian cricket pitches are judged by outsiders.
Gavaskar Calls Out Double Standards Against Indian Cricket
Gavaskar backed his argument with examples from Australia, England, and other nations where numerous wickets fall in a single day — yet those surfaces seldom face the same level of outrage that Indian pitches do.
High-Wicket Days Abroad Never Criticized
He pointed out that during India’s tour of Australia, 17 wickets fell on day one in Perth, and similar collapses occurred in Adelaide, Sydney, Leeds, Birmingham, and The Oval. Despite this, there were “absolutely no complaints” from the same experts who quickly jumped to criticize conditions in India.
Selective Criticism Hurts the Perception of Indian Cricket
Gavaskar noted that surfaces in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka also produce frequent wicket falls, yet they escape scrutiny. According to him, the fault-finding is reserved almost exclusively for India — reinforcing a bias that has long plagued how Indian cricket is portrayed internationally.
Gavaskar’s Message — Respect Indian Cricket and Its Conditions
The former India captain concluded by stating that such predictable criticism only reflects a refusal to acknowledge the competitive and diverse nature of Indian pitches. He believes it’s time to recognize that tough surfaces are part of the challenge across Test cricket — not a flaw unique to Indian cricket.
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