Amid the MS Dhoni gloves row, former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar took a dig at people calling for India to boycott the 2019 World Cup, asking them if they have thought about who will win the trophy if ‘Bharat’ stages a walkout.
Speaking to Aaj Tak, Gavaskar sarcastically said that there was “no problem” in India boycotting the World Cup, but then people should also “think before speaking.”
“Karo karo, koi problem nahi. Jo bhi karna hai aapko, karo. World Cup kaun jeetega phir, Bharat wapis aayegi toh? World Cup kaun jeetega? Yeh bhi socha hai kabhi? Bas baatein karne ke liye baatein karte ho. Thoda soch samajke baate kariye,” said Gavaskar.
Gavaskar’s comments follows the controversy that erupted after India's opening World Cup game against South Africa in Southampton, where Dhoni wore green wicket-keeping gloves that had a dagger logo embossed, which looked more like an Army insignia.
The ICC then denied Dhoni permission to wear the dagger insignia on his gloves during the World Cup despite BCCI's assertion that it was not a military symbol.
Earlier, speaking to India Today, Gavaskar had said:
“Rules are there for a reason and they are meant to be followed. That’s why they are there.”
Twitter Hails Gavaskar’s Response
Gavaskar’s response was a hit among the Twitterati, with people asking for it to be the “final word in the nontroversy.”
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)