NEW DELHI: Former India captain
Sunil Gavaskar hit out at overseas stars like South Africa legend
AB de Villiers for questioning
Shreyas Iyer’s omission from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!De Villiers, speaking on his YouTube channel, had suggested that Iyer's absence was not purely performance-based and hinted at “something going on behind the scenes.” He also claimed that the batter's inclusion could have led to an “ego clash,” citing Iyer's recent exploits as captain in the IPL and domestic circuit.
Gavaskar, however, minced no words in dismissing de Villiers' comments. Writing in his column for Sportstar, he blasted foreign players for interfering in
Indian cricket matters.
“What is baffling, though, is that foreigners with no stake in Indian cricket and little knowledge about it wade into the debate, adding fuel to the fire. However great they may be as players, the selection of the Indian team is strictly none of their business. They should focus on their country's cricket and let us Indians worry about ours,” Gavaskar wrote.
The legendary opener stressed that Indian cricketers never comment on the selection matters of other nations.
“It's almost as if the selection is perfect and they have no comments to make. So why butt your nose into the selection of the Indian team? Have you ever heard Indian ex-cricketers talk about the selection of other countries' teams? No, we mind our own business,” he added.
Gavaskar didn't spare the Indian media either, accusing them of amplifying overseas opinions for validation.
“To an extent, the Indian media is also responsible, as they go to overseas cricketers and ask them about Indian cricket. How often do we see Indian journalists chasing foreign players – whom even their own countries have forgotten – just to get a quote on India? It's as if our cricket needs validation from them,” he argued.
With India gearing up for the Asia Cup, Gavaskar's fiery words have reignited the debate over external influence in Indian cricketing discourse.
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