Sunil Gavaskar Rebukes Star Sports for Repeatedly Airing Virat Kohli’s Interview on Strike Rate

Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar has recently criticized the sports network Star Sports for continuously broadcasting an interview of Virat Kohli addressing his critics about his strike rate.

The ongoing IPL 2024 season has seen contentious debates regarding Kohli’s performance and his strike rate, especially against spinners, as cricketers gear up for the T20 World Cup. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar went as far as omitting Kohli from his ideal squad for the upcoming World Cup, sparking further dialogue and speculation.

Kohli defended himself last week after a stellar performance against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, where he scored a blazing 70 not out in just 44 balls, including a 61-run onslaught against spinners at a striking rate of 179, marking one of his best innings against spinners in the IPL.

Prior to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s match against Gujarat Titans, Star Sports aired Kohli’s fiery interview from the earlier game. Sunil Gavaskar, a cricket expert with the network, expressed his exasperation, suggesting that by repeatedly showing the interview, they were inadvertently criticizing their own commentary team.

Gavaskar pointed out that Kohli’s strike rate against spinners was previously lower when criticism began, defending his own commentary by stating that commentators simply react to what they observe in the game. He contended that commentators hold no personal grudges against players and their remarks are part of their professional duty.

Gavaskar warned that by repeatedly broadcasting this interview, Star Sports risk undermining the credibility of all the commentators, not just their specific team. He emphasized the importance of recognizing that the commentators’ analysis is based on the game’s dynamics and should not be misunderstood as personal bias or criticism.

The legendary cricketer’s remarks underline the complex relationship between players, commentators, and media networks during high-profile tournaments like the IPL, where every performance and statement is meticulously dissected and debated among fans, experts, and the media.