“Don’t Think I Would Call Him The Greatest”: Sunil Gavaskar Skewered Over Comment On Shane Warne
India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed his shock at the untimely death of Australian spin great Shane Warne.
Gavaskar lavished praise on Warne’s contribution to cricket, however, said that the Australian was not the greatest spinner of all time.
Speaking on a show on India Today, the Indian batting great and former India captain said that “Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were certainly better than Warne”.
The Australian spinner died aged 52 on Friday due to a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand.
Shane Warne took 708 Test wickets and another 293 in one-day internationals, but Gavaskar said that in his opinion, Sri Lankan spin ace Muralitharan was a “rank over him”.
“For me, the Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were certainly better than Warne. Because look at Warne’s record against India. It was pretty ordinary against India,” Gavaskar said on India Today.
“Because he didn’t have much success against Indian players, who are very good players of spin bowling, I don’t think I would call him the greatest. I think, Muttiah Muralitharan with the success that he had against India would rank over him in my book.”
“He was always looking to live life fully, king size as they call it and he did that and maybe because he lived life in such a manner is perhaps the reason why his heart couldn’t take it and he passed away so soon,” Gavaskar said.
The timing of Gavaskar’s comments and his remark on Australian’s lifestyle upset some of Warne’s fans on social media.
Sunil Gavaskar on national television talking about Warne’s poor bowling record in India and also insinuating that his heart couldn’t keep up with his lifestyle.
How is it possible to be so bereft of class and basic humanness?
This is utterly disgusting&classless Mr.#Gavaskar& @sardesairajdeep.
Is this the time to ask “Do you think he is best spinner of all time?”& gavaskar is discussing Warne records&stats without dodging it
Sunil Gavaskar uses Shane Warne’s death an an opportunity to say that Indian spinners and Muralitharan were better, because of their records against India.
Honestly, Sunny, it’s not the time.. could have just sidestepped it.