Published: Jul 18, 2024, 04:51 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 18, 2024, 04:51 PM (IST)
The legendary Indian cricketing figure, who speaks his words in a clear manner- whether it is calling our the administration or even Virat Kohli- Gavaskar has addressed an increasing ‘trend’ in cricket that he thinks needs some attention. Always having a soft corner for batters, Gavaskar pointed out a ‘modern’ approach taken up by bowlers that he believes gives them advantage.
Gavaskar is not someone who is easy to please. He doesn’t like it when a batter throws his wicket away or runs casually between the wicket, or if a batter is unable to convert ones into twos or timely ground his bat on the ground. So one can only imagine the concern on Gavaskar’s part when the bowlers deliberately take ‘drinks break’ of their own in between the innings. It has now become extremely common for pace bowlers to take a couple of sips while fielding near the boundary, an act that Gavaskar severely condemns.
“In cricket, the modern practice of bowlers, especially the quick ones, getting a refreshing drink on the boundary line where they go to field after completing their over is an example of the authorities turning a blind eye to the practice. Why have the drinks interval then if bowlers are going to get themselves hydrated after going flat out for six deliveries? Mind you, the batter doesn’t get the chance to have a drink after an over where they may have taken eight runs or so, which are all run,” Gavaskar wrote in his column.
This is not the first time Gavaskar has addressed the issue. He has spoken about it time and time again. Gavaskar first touched this topic back in 2011, when the ICC ended runners for injured batters. As for a more recent call, during the IPL 2023, Gavaskar notices similar thing happening in the final when water was sent to GT pacer Mohit Sharma, which ‘disturbed his rhythm’.
