Sunil Gavaskar

IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad batting approach was puzzling - Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the "puzzling" batting approach of Sunrisers Hyderabad during the powerplay in the first IPL Qualifier, suggesting their reckless strategy may have cost them the match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Having cleaned up his fellow Australian Travis Head with a peach of a delivery with his second ball, Mitchell Starc blew away the SRH top-order in his opening spell of 3-0-22-3. SRH lost four wickets inside the powerplay to be dismissed for a paltry 159, a target KKR shot down in 13.4 overs to storm into the Sunday's summit clash in Chennai. "It was a terrific performance, no question. Such an impressive display with both the bat and the ball. They took four wickets in the power play, and that's where the Sunrisers were pushed onto the back foot, really on the ropes. They couldn't recover from that," the former Indian captain told Star Sports Cricket Live. "There was a partnership of sorts, but to me, the approach of the SRH batters in those first

IPL 2024: Gavaskar hails Rohit innings, positive sign before T20 World Cup

Rohit Sharma's return to form might have come too late for Mumbai Indians but it augurs well for him and the Indian team heading into the T20 World Cup next month, feels the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. Following a 105 not out against Chennai Super Kings in the first-half of the season, Rohit struggled to make a fifty and got out for single digit scores four times in seven matches. Rohit got his mojo back in their last match of the season when he smashed a 38-ball 68 studded with three towering sixes to delight everyone including the former India captain. Well, that was such a nice thing to see. Because look, we know that Mumbai Indians can't qualify, but to see Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain for the T20 World Cup starting in about 15 days' time, batting the way that he has, it's very heartening," Gavaskar said on Star Sports Cricket Live. "That's exactly what you want. You want Rohit Sharma to be setting the team off to a good start, so that the lower-order batters can come in and

IPL 2024: Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at Virat Kohli, Star Sports; here's why

The controversy over Virat Kohli's strike rate was raised again during RCB vs GT match and this time India legend Sunil Gavaskar critises the star India batter and host broadcaster Star Sports

Hardik Pandya will be a different player in T20 World Cup: Gavaskar

Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels there is no reason to get overly worried about Hardik Pandya's bowling form going into the T20 World Cup, saying the all-rounder will be a "different player" in national colours. Pandya was retained as vice-captain of the 15-member squad announced by the BCCI on Tuesday despite his ordinary form for Mumbai Indians in the ongoing IPL. The MI captain has scored 197 runs and taken just four wickets in 10 games with his team languishing in ninth spot. "There's a big difference playing in the IPL and playing for your country. Playing for your country brings out something different in every player and Hardik Pandya will be a different player," said Gavaskar on Sports Today. "He's had to face a lot of issues in this particular tournament (IPL), he's handled it quite well. When he goes overseas and has to play for India, I think he will be in a completely different frame of mind. "And that's going to be a much more positive frame of mind than

IPL 2024: Gaikwad's captaincy was most impressive against RCB - Gavaskar

The legendary Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with Chennai Super Kings' new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and lauded him for the way he maneuvered his bowlers during the IPL opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru here. Handed the leadership role just ahead of the IPL, Gaikwad has big shoes to fill and he made an impressive start under the tutelage of talisman MS Dhoni, guiding CSK to a six-wicket win over RCB on Friday night. "Absolutely! Your debut as a captain becomes very important. You want to begin your captaincy career well with a win and that's exactly what happened. What was impressive was his bowling changes," the former India skipper told Star sports. "Because when you saw the way he kept on changing Mustafizur; the way he used Mustafizur was absolutely terrific. He kept swapping Deepak Chahar, keeping faith in Tushar Deshpande for that final over. "I think seeing that Tushar Deshpande had been taken for 25, there was an opportunity to use another bowler, but he still st

Difficult to get back his fluency in IPL 2024: Gavaskar on Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant will find it "very difficult" to be at his fluent best at the beginning of the IPL but Sunil Gavaskar expects that his knees will react better once he starts batting more and more in match situations. Having survived a horrific car crash in December, 2022, Pant will make a comeback to competitive cricket after more than 14 months as Delhi Capitals captain after an extensive rehabilitation programme. "It'll be very difficult. But the good thing is he (Pant) has played some cricket. So he has got some practice. To get fluency in batting is a little tough," Gavaskar told 'Star Sports'. He then explained his point of view. "When you talk of a knee injury, the pivoting that takes place. Wicket-keeping is difficult as well, but even in batting, the knee is quite important. So, maybe, in the beginning, we won't see the real Rishabh Pant that we are used to," the maestro said. Pant's presence and his chatty nature also adds to the entertainment quotient, Gavaskar admitted. "

Will Virat Kohli not play in IPL 2024? Here's what Sunil Gavaskar said

The IPL 2024 will begin with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on March 22 at M Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

IND-ENG: Gavaskar wants Ashwin to lead team out on field in his 100th Test

Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday suggested that India captain Rohit Sharma should allow Ravichandran Ashwin to lead the team out on the field in the final Test in Dharamsala, to honour the senior off-spinner in his milestone 100th match. The 37-year-old Ashwin is playing in his 99th Test in the fourth match here against England and returned with figures of 5/51 in the visitors' second innings, his 35th five-wicket haul in the longest format. "India win tomorrow, and you go to Dharamshala (for fifth and final Test), I just hope that Rohit allows you to lead the team out to the field. That'll be a wonderful gesture, honour for all that you have done for Indian cricket," Gavaskar said while speaking to Ashwin on Jio Cinema after the end of the third day's play. To that, Ashwin replied he would be happy if his presence in the team lasts longer. "Sunny bhai, you are being too generous, thanks so much. However, expectations about all these things, I think I am well past all that

IND vs ENG 4th Test: Jaiswal 5th Indian to score 600 runs in a Test series

Opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal on Saturday became only the fifth Indian to score 600 or more runs in a Test series, during the second day's play of the fourth match against England here. The left-handed Jaiswal, who made his India debut last year during the tour of the West Indies, achieved the feat in his seventh innings of the ongoing five-match Test series when he took a single off Shoaib Bashir to reach 55 not out during the final session. On a run-making spree, Jaiswal struck two double hundreds in the second and third Tests against England in the ongoing series. The 22-year-old Jaiswal joined Indian batting legends Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid as well as Dilip Sardesai to amass more than 600 runs in a Test series. Former Indian captains Gavaskar, Kohli and Dravid had amassed more than 600 runs in Test series twice in their careers while Sardesai recorded his feat during the away series in the West Indies in 1970-71. It was in the same 1970-71 series in the West

IND vs ENG Tests: From Gavaskar to Root, top 5 run-getters on Indian soil

The list of the top five run-getters on Indian soil in the India vs England Tests has two Englishmen on it. Find out who they are and how they got there

India vs England Tests: Sachin to Cook, top five run-getters in history

The list of top five run-getters in Tests between India and England features masters of their craft from nearly every generation of batters since to 70s to now

IND vs ENG 2024: Yashasvi could establish himself in side feels Gavaskar

Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal could cement his place in the Indian Test side during the upcoming five-Test series against England at home, feels the legendary Sunil Gavaskar. The former captain believes that the Indian pitches would allow the 20-year-old to express himself in a better manner than the hard and bouncy tracks of South Africa. India last played a Test series in South Africa. "The home pitches would be different. The pitches in South Africa were tough due to extra bounce, and even experienced batters struggle, whereas Yashasvi is a youngster," Gavaskar told Star Sports. "However, with the approach that he displayed in Centurion and even in the West Indies, there's a belief that he would cement himself on the Indian tracks. "You need a left-hander in the top order. Although I cannot say it with all certainty, he is likely to cement himself in the Test side in this series." Since his debut in the longest format last year in the West Indies, Jaiswal has scored 316 runs i

Kohli to Neeraj: Full list of sportspersons to witness Ram temple ceremony

While Rohit has started preparations for IND vs ENG 1st Test in Hyderabad, it was earlier reported that former India captain Virat Kohli took special leave to attend consecration ceremony today.

Gavaskar backs Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play T20 World Cup in June

Former captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to play in the T20 World Cup in June, saying the two senior players are not only the key batters but also terrific fielders in the Indian team. Both Rohit and Kohli have not played a T20I since India's semifinal loss to England at the 2022 T20 World Cup but the duo is keen to return to the shortest format. "What makes me feel good is their fielding. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are still great fielders and will be of great help on the field. In addition to seniority in the dressing room, they will contribute on the field, too," Gavaskar told Star Sports. "Sometimes, you get slow when you are 35-36; your throw isn't that good anymore. So, there are discussions over where to keep you while setting the field. That's not a problem for these two because they are still terrific fielders," he added. The T20 World Cup is being co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA from June 1-29. In Rohit's absence, Hardik Panya has

IND vs SA 2nd Test: Sunil Gavaskar slams SENA media over Cape Town wicket

There is a tendency amongst the SENA country's media that if you can't play on fast, bouncy pitches, you're not a batter, says India legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar

In top 10 of India's Test history: Gavaskar rates Rahul's ton at Centurion

KL Rahul's brave century during the ongoing opening Test against South Africa here on Wednesday drew high acclaim from the legendary Sunil Gavaskar, who has rated the knock "in the top ten in the history" of India's red-ball cricket. Rahul, who walked into the middle while the Indians were four down for 92 on Day 1 on Tuesday, made a gutsy 101 off 137 balls before being knocked over by debutant pacer Nandre Burger, as the visitors were all out for 245. Commentating in Hindi on Star Sports, Gavaskar asserted that Rahul's knock had come on a difficult surface, where the ball was behaving erratically, and felt that the confidence needed to bat on such a track has to be enormous. "I have been watching cricket for over 50 years now, and I can undoubtedly say this century by Rahul has to be in the top ten of India's Test history because it's a different pitch here," Gavaskar said. "A batter would not gain the confidence so easily that he has set, especially with the ball doing anything a

Passing on the baton: Will Shubman Gill take on the mantle from Kohli?

Like Sachin Tendulkar passed the baton of batsmanship to Virat Kohli, a new successor has emerged. This time, the emerging prince of Indian cricket hails from a remote village, not from a metro city

World Cup 2023, IND vs NZ SF: Gavaskar feels Williamson can tackle Kuldeep

On the rare occasions when India's menacing pace attack could not scythe through opposition line-ups in this World Cup, their spinners did the job in their own ways. However, that may not be the case when Kane Williamson leads New Zealand out in the first semifinal against the in-form hosts here on Wednesday, according to batting great Sunil Gavaskar. Highlighting Williamson's adept footwork and strategic approach, Gavaskar reckoned the Kiwis skipper will have no trouble negotiating the Indian spinners, especially the unorthodox Kuldeep Yadav. "He's such a great player; it doesn't matter if he's come out from a big break and he's scored runs. So, I don't think it's going to make much of a difference," Gavaskar said on Star Sports. "He uses his feet really well to go down the pitch to smother the turn if needed; he then goes and uses the crease as well. So, he's a very good player. I don't think he is going to be fussed about playing Kuldeep; he will know how to tackle him." Gavask

World Cup 2023: Story of India vs England 1987 semi-final at Wankhede

A retiring legend was devastated, an enormously talented spinner never fully found his mojo back, an inspirational captain lost his hot seat while a 14-year-old watching everything from the Wankhede stadium's boundary line must have made a pledge to himself that one day his script will be different from theirs. The teenager was of course Sachin Tendulkar and the devastated legend was Sunil Gavaskar, who had already announced his retirement and never played for India after India lost that World Cup semifinal against England in 1987. Maninder Singh, a world class left-arm spinner, was never the same bowler after that game. Kapil Dev lost his captaincy, one last time. Wankhede Stadium in 1987 was an amphitheatre that had absorbed the trials and tribulations of a very good Indian team. Graham Gooch, the English vice-captain swept his way to 115 and England didn't look back. On that day, no one envisaged that anything could go wrong for the Indian team. But Murphy's Law hit the Indian

World Cup: Rohit never been bothered about personal landmarks - Gavaskar

Rohit Sharma may have 31 ODI hundreds in his kitty but the Indian skipper is the last person to play the game for personal milestones or gratification, legendary Sunil Gavaskar said ahead of India's all-or-nothing World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday. Rohit is currently India's second-highest run-scorer in this competition after Virat Kohli, amassing 503 in nine matches at an average of 55.88 and a strike rate of 121.49, including a ton and three half-centuries. "Well, I don't think Rohit Sharma is going to change his game because that's how he's playing throughout this tournament. He hasn't been bothered about any personal landmarks or milestones," Sunil Gavaskar told 'Star Sports'. "He's looking to get the team up to a flying start because what that does, it puts the opposition under pressure and gives his team the platform from where they can then capitalize on the remaining 40 overs," Gavaskar analysed the Indian skipper's approach. "So in the first 8 -10 overs