‘Today, players have options…..’ – Sunil Gavaskar slams modern-day cricketers after South Africa’s poor show in 1st ODI vs India

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out at South Africa for their embarrassing and humiliating defeat in the first ODI against visiting the nation India on December 17 at Wanderers Stadium. Notably, the hosts could only manage 116 runs before getting an all-out. However, Team India chased down the total in only 16.4 overs and are ahead by 1-0 in three matches of the ODI series.

The former India skipper affirms that modern-day players do not focus on winning games; they focus on playing in overseas leagues. In addition, the well-renowned cricket commentator reveals that they never had such options in their lives, and that’s why they excel more. The legendary cricketer believes the current-era players still put food on the table despite not playing well for the nation.

“Back in my day, we didn’t have too many options. If we failed, we had to go back to club cricket. There was no money in club cricket back then. Today, players have options. You play for your country, you play T20 leagues… you still can put the food on the table. And therefore there is this tendency to go bang-bang (with the bat)! (There is a tendency) If they don’t score runs, if they don’t take wickets, if they get dropped, so what?,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports.

They try to take the easy way out, which is to go ‘bang-bang’: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar gives an example of the different leagues, including IPL, which makes them less likely to play for their nation. Moreover, the 74-year-old legend is looking forward to the next two ODIs.

“They will still have some T20 contract somewhere, if not with the IPL, then some league or the other. That makes players take a lot less responsibility. They try to take the easy way out, which is to go ‘bang-bang’. If they succeed, great. If they don’t, the team is 116 all out. So what? There will be another match two days later,” he added further.