Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after backlash over comments on Shane Warne 

Sunil Gavaskar issues clarification after backlash over comments on Shane Warne 

Last week Sunil Gavaskar praised Shane Warne’s impact on cricket but was criticized heavily over some of his other comments. The Australian spin legend Warne died on March 4 due to a suspected heart attack at the age of 52 in Koh Samui, Thailand.

When an India Today anchor asked him whether Shane Warne was the greatest spinner he has seen, the former Indian captain said: “No, I wouldn’t say that no. For me, the Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were certainly better than Shane Warne.”

“Because look at Shane Warne’s record against India. It was pretty ordinary in India, he got five wickets only once in Nagpur, and that too because Zaheer Khan swung wildly against him to give him a fifer.

The social media fans of Warne showered him with condemnation over these “ordinary records” remarks and called him insensitive. The Australian media also judged the 72-year-old Gavaskar for his ill-timed comment.

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The question over Shane Warne’s greatness shouldn’t have been asked, says Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar

On Monday, March 7, the batting legend Gavaskar shared a video on his social media platform to clarify the said remarks.

“Last week was a very traumatic time for the cricketing fraternity. As in the space of 24 hours we’ve lost two of the most iconic cricketers that the game has seen, Rodney Marsh and Shane Warne. On TV, I was asked by an anchor whether Warne was the greatest spinner ever, and I gave my honest personal opinion. In hindsight, that question shouldn’t have been asked nor should have I answered. Because that was not the time for any comparison or critical evaluation. Warne was one of the greatest cricketers to have ever played the game. Rodney Marsh too was one of the greatest wicketkeepers that the game has seen. May their souls rest in eternal peace,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

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