'This is not an Indian phenomena' - Sunil Gavaskar slams English commentators for criticizing Indian fans

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar has lambasted English commentators for their remarks on Indian supporters of favouritism during the ongoing Ashes 2023. Notably, the England crowd were seen cheering only when the home team played well. The commentators, on the other hand, were backing the hosts to win the game despite Australia's overwhelming performances during the first two Tests.
  
Gavaskar questioned the mentality of the commentators, saying it's normal for local fans to support their home team, but to claim that it only happens in India is unreasonable. It is not an Indian phenomenon as it occurs in every country, according to the 73-year-old.

“It’s only natural that the crowds will support their own team and won’t cheer the opponents, but to suggest that it happens only in India is ridiculous. This is not an Indian phenomena, but happens in every country where home crowds keep silent when a boundary is hit against their bowlers or their batters get out," Gavaskar wrote in his Mid-Day column. 

He went on to say that what irritates him is the mentality of the commentators, continually remarking on the silence of the Indian crowd when an Indian batter is dismissed or an Indian bowler is hit for a boundary.

“Nowhere has it been more apparent than at the current Ashes series. What bugs is the condescending way, overseas commentators, when they come to India, keep saying how quiet the Indian crowd at the ground is when an Indian batter gets out or when an Indian bowler is hit for a boundary," the former cricketer added.

Gavaskar blasts English media for handling Bairstow’s dismissal in Second Ashes Test

Furthermore, Sunil Gavaskar also criticized the English media for how they handled the dismissal of keeper-batter Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test at Lord's. He remarked that the England captain Ben Stokes' century drew far more attention than Bairstow's dismissal which sparked the ‘spirit of cricket' debate.

“Typically, while the cricketing world is busy discussing the rights and wrongs of the Jonny Bairstow stumping in the second Test match at Lord’s, the really important cricketing aspect of Ben Stokes’s marvellous innings has receded into the background. It’s a great example of how little things so often overshadow the more important happenings," the legendary former Indian player stated.

“This has been the usual diversionary tactic used by the overseas media for years where a small insignificant incident is made to cover up for a bigger failure of the team," Gavaskar concluded.