IPL 2020 | ‘It all boils down to jealousy’: Sunil Gavaskar slams IPL critics
IPL 2020: “They [the critics] only see the money aspect that is there in the IPL. They don’t look at what the IPL does. I think it all boils down to jealousy. Only those who do not benefit from it, do not get anything from the IPL criticise it,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
Updated on: Aug 23, 2020, 17:52:28 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By hindustantimes.com
India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar slammed those who criticise the Indian Premier League and said that the negative remarks towards the tournament come out of jealousy. Gavaskar’s remarks came less than a month before the start of the 13th edition of IPL. The tournament, which was originally scheduled to begin in March, but was postponed indefinitely due to Covid-19 outbreak, will now be played in the UAE starting September 19after the postponement of T20 World Cup in Australia created a window.
File image of Sunil Gavaskar. (IPL)
Speaking to India Today on the latest episode of Inspiration, Gavaskar said: “They [the critics] only see the money aspect that is there in the IPL. They don’t look at what the IPL does. I think it all boils down to jealousy. Only those who do not benefit from it, do not get anything from the IPL criticise it.”
“There are so many people whose livelihoods are there because of the IPL. It can be the guys who are at the grounds who paint people’s faces, people who are making those shirts that are sold outside the stadiums just before a match, or the vendors who have food stalls at the stadium. There is an entire cottage industry around the IPL,” he further added.
Gavaskar went on to add that people criticise IPL on social media because it is a soft target. “Somebody wants to be a little famous on the Internet, then you target the IPL. The IPL is a soft target,” he said.
“An argument people opposed to the IPL give is, we know Indian cricket and we are thinking of the good of Indian cricket. Oh, I see, so you are the only ones who are going to be sitting in judgement and telling us what is good for Indian cricket. Of course, not,” Gavaskar further said.
Meanwhile, India captain Virat Kohli landed in Dubai for the IPL 2020 on Saturday. A day after landing in Dubai for IPL 2020, the Royal Challengers Bangalore captain decided not to waste any time and straightaway jumped to physical training inside his hotel room. RCB took to twitter to share Kohli’s photograph after training with the caption: “No days off for Captain Kohli!”
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