Former India captain and legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has come clean about his remarks pertaining to Virat Kohli and wife Anushka Sharma, saying that he was misinterpreted and his comments were not intended to be ‘sexist’. Gavaskar’s remarks stirred up a huge controversy when he made a frivolous comment involving Anushka, which was right after Virat dropped two sitter catches and failed to score runs with the bat as well.
During the commentary, he had said, “Ab jo lockdown tha toh unhone sirf Anushka ke saath bowling ki practice ki hai, usse toh kuch bhi nahi banna (During the lockdown, he has only practiced against Anushka’s bowling. Nothing was to come out of it.).” This remark did not sit well with the netizens and they spared no time in ripping apart the former cricketer. Anushka, as well as Virat, expressed their displeasure at the comment.
Now, Gavaskar has come forward to explain his side of the story and said that his comments were ‘twisted’. He claimed that what he meant was the fact that the senior Indian players were finding it difficult to bat due to lack of match practice. He told an online portal, “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.”
He further added, “That was the point that was being made. Virat also had no practice and the only practice that they had when they were 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 neighbouring buildings and then put up. That’s the only thing I am doing.”
Talking about his comments being construed as ‘sexist’ Gavaskar 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?”
He even said that he has always stood up for wives of the cricketers and said, “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.”
(Source: India Today)
