Sunil Gavaskar comes down heavily on those criticizing IPL

Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar has come down heavily on people criticizing the Indian Premier League. Gavaskar said that the jealousy forces a certain section to give negative remarks about the league.

Speaking to India Today during the show Inspiration, Gavaskar said, “They [the 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 criticize it.”

Gavaskar emphasized on the employment the IPL generates and how it’s the source of innumerable livelihoods.

“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 did not mince any words and termed the criticism a desire on people’s part to be famous by targeting the Indian Premier League, “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 judgment and telling us what is good for Indian cricket. Of course not,” Gavaskar added further. 

The 13th edition of the Indian Premier League has moved to the UAE due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in India. The teams have reached the country and following the guidelines set by the BCCI for the smooth conduct of the tournament.