IPL 2024

‘Khelo dimaag se’ – Fans react as Sunil Gavaskar names his top three of the IPL, leaves out Suresh Raina

Published on May 19, 2023

During the Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) game of the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, former Indian cricketer and noted pundit Sunny Gavaskar made an important point. Gavaskar identified four players, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan, who he believes have a huge impact on his team’s success while offering his expert commentary during the game. According to Gavaskar, their team ultimately prevails in the match whenever these players score 60 or 70 runs.

Gavaskar also praised Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, and Dwayne Bravo for their work, saying they had continuously helped his side succeed. Despite Suresh Raina’s status as “Mr IPL” due to his outstanding performances in the competition throughout the years, it is important to note that Gavaskar did not mention him.

Sunil Gavaskar was recently in the news for taking MS Dhoni’s autograph

“I decided to create a special memory When I got to know about MS Dhoni’s lap of honour. That’s why I ran towards MSD to take his autograph. It was his last home game at Chepauk. Of course, he will get a chance to play here if CSK qualifies for the playoffs. But I decided to make that moment special. I was fortunate enough that someone in the camera unit had a marker pen. So, I am thankful to that person as well,” Gavaskar said, describing the moment when he managed to get an autograph from MS Dhoni during CSK’s lap at Chepauk in their final league game.

“So, I went to Mahi and requested him to sign an autograph on the shirt that I was wearing. It was so nice of him to acknowledge it. It was a very emotional moment for me because this fellow has made immense contributions to Indian Cricket,” an emotional Gavaskar explained. “Kapil Dev lifting the 1983 WC Trophy and MS Dhoni hitting that winning six in the 2011 WC final are the two cricketing moments I would love to see before I die,” he said.

Although it is yet unknown why Raina was left out of Sunil Gavaskar’s list, cricket fans are sure to engage in discussions and arguments on the former cricketer’s assessment of the player’s contributions to their teams’ victory.

Here’s how fans reacted: