In a strongly worded critique, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar took aim at Star Sports, the official broadcaster of the Indian Premier League (IPL), for their editorial choices in the 2024 season. The bone of contention arose after Star Sports repeatedly aired a post-game interview of Virat Kohli, who had addressed criticism over his strike rate, which was perceived as an indirect affront to the commentators, themselves part of Star Sports’ broadcast team.
The incident occurred during the pre-game discussions leading up to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Gujarat Titans face-off in the 52nd match of the season, where Gavaskar was serving as a commentator for Star Sports. He expressed his discontent with the network for showing Kohli’s rebuke of the commentators multiple times during the broadcast. With notable exasperation, Gavaskar said, “That particular post-game interview has been shown on this channel earlier as well, right now, on this particular program it has probably been shown half a dozen times.”
Highlighting the awkward position Star Sports placed its commentators in, Gavaskar pointed out the implication that the ‘critics’ mentioned by Kohli were indeed the channel’s commentators. “I hope that Star Sports recognizes that when that is being shown, asking where are the critics, the critics are the commentators. Your Star Sports commentators are the ones from whom the questions are being asked,” he remarked.
Gavaskar also offered a critique of Kohli’s performance, reflecting on an instance where Kohli’s strike rate was 118 after facing the first ball and being dismissed in the 14th or 15th over. He questioned the merit of applause for such a performance and was critical of Star Sports’ decision to belittle its commentators by airing Kohli’s comments. He articulated a clear expectation for the broadcaster to understand that the message had been communicated sufficiently and to refrain from showing the clip again.
“We’ve all played a bit of cricket, not a lot of cricket, but we speak about what we see. We don’t necessarily have any likes and dislikes. Even if we have likes or dislikes, we actually speak on what’s happening,” Gavaskar said, laying bare the professionalism with which commentators approach the game. He warned that airing the interview again would amount to questioning the commentators’ expertise and integrity.
The roots of the controversy can be traced back to Virat Kohli’s reaction to ongoing discussions about his batting approach. After scoring an unbeaten 70 off 44 deliveries against Gujarat Titans, Kohli expressed his disdain for the debate surrounding his strike rate in the tournament. Kohli emphasized his focus on winning games for his team, questioning the credibility of those who have not been in high-pressure match situations to understand his mindset.
Kohli suggested that those who have been in the thick of it, building a career over 15 years, understand what it takes to perform consistently. He highlighted that for seasoned players like himself, certain aspects of the game are akin to muscle memory, beyond the simplistic analysis of raw numbers like strike rate. His impassioned defense of his approach underscored a deeper contest between performance and perception, veteran instincts and external scrutiny.
It’s yet to be seen how Star Sports will respond to Gavaskar’s forthright admonition. Will they heed his words, or will the tension simmer between commentators and the broadcast narrative?
In related IPL news, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to clash with the IPL in 2025 due to a proposed new window because of the ICC Champions Trophy. Additionally, Mayank Yadav’s participation in the remainder of IPL 2024 seems improbable as confirmed by Lucknow Super Giants coach Justin Langer. Meanwhile, RCB’s young sensation Yash Dayal continues to capture attention as the franchise’s newfound ‘treasure’. The chessboard of cricket persists with its dynamic play, as these stories illustrate the ever-evolving landscape of the beloved sport.
