‘Only Those Who Don’t Benefit from IPL Criticise it, it all Boils Down to Jealousy’: Sunil Gavaskar

Former India batsman and current commentator Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at critics of the Indian Premier League, saying only the jealous ones who don’t benefit from the tournament continue to criticise it.

Speaking to India Today on the latest episode of Inspiration, Gavaskar said critics only see the money involved in the tournament and turn a blind eye to the benefits, pointing to an ‘entire industry’ around the IPL.

“They (critics) only see the money aspect that is there in the IPL. They don’t look at what the IPL does. I think it all boils down to jealousy. Only those who do not benefit from it, do not get anything from the IPL criticise it.

“There are so many people whose livelihoods are there because of the IPL. It can be the guys who are at the grounds who paint people’s faces, people who are making those shirts that are sold outside the stadiums just before a match, or the vendors who have food stalls at the stadium. There is an entire cottage industry around the IPL,” he further added.

Gavaskar said an easy way to fame is to target the ‘soft target’ IPL.

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“Somebody wants to be a little famous on the Internet, then you target the IPL. The IPL is a soft target,” he said.

“An argument people opposed to the IPL give is, we know Indian cricket and we are thinking of the good of Indian cricket. Oh, I see, so you are the only ones who are going to be sitting in judgement and telling us what is good for Indian cricket. Of course, not.”

The IPL 2020 is set to begin on September 19 in United Arab Emirates, with the tournament being shifted out of India due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.