Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at foreign pundits for dissecting India's Asia Cup squad
As with any squad announcement, the BCCI's revelation of the India squad for Asia Cup 2025 attracted significant criticism. From major players being ignored to leadership calls, the squad selected for the ACC tournament ruffled many feathers. While the noise against the BCCI's decision grows louder, Sunil Gavaskar has come up with a unique complaint. The former Indian skipper has taken aim at overseas cricketers who have opined on the India squad for the Asia Cup. Gavaskar has opined that while the discussion is relevant in the Indian setup, there's no need for foreign cricket pundits to interfere.
Sunil Gavaskar takes aim at overseas pundits for criticising the India squad for Asia Cup 2025
A 15-member India squad for the Asia Cup 2025 was announced by chief selector Ajit Agarkar earlier last week. While it's been over a week since the squad was revealed, the criticism of the selection calls keeps coming. The board's decision to ignore Shreyas Iyer has caused the most contention. Despite a stellar run in IPL 2025, where he led Punjab Kings to the final for the first time in over a decade, Iyer missed out on getting a spot in India's T20I squad.
Meanwhile, the board handed a comeback to Shubman Gill in the shorter format after a year. As Gill returns to the T20I fray, the youngster has also been handed the team vice-captaincy. Gill's inclusion means that Sanju Samson loses his opening spot. While Samson has been named in the Asia Cup squad, the wicketkeeper-batter is all but counted out of the India Playing XI for the tournament. While the fans and fraternity have nitpicked multiple other aspects, Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the involvement of outside voices.
The former Indian cricketer recently lashed out at the foreign cricket pundits for criticising the India squad for the Asia Cup. Gavaskar has mocked former overseas stars for constantly expressing their opinions on Indian squads when the Indian setup doesn't comment on their game. The ex-Indian captain has accused the overseas fraternity of adding 'fuel to the fire.'
"What is baffling is foreigners who have zero stake in Indian cricket, and much less knowledge about it, wading into the debate and adding fuel to the fire. However great they may be as players and however many times they may have been to India, the selection of the Indian team is strictly none of their business. They should focus on their country's cricket and let us Indians worry about our cricket. Amazingly, when their country's teams are selected, there's hardly anything, if ever, heard from them about the selection,” Gavaskar wrote in his recent column.
“It's almost as if the selection is perfect and they have no comments to make. So, why butt your nose into the selection of the Indian team? Have you ever heard Indian ex-cricketers talk about the selection of other countries' teams? No, we mind our own business, and seriously couldn't be bothered by who they choose or who they don't select,” he added.
