Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar on Sunday said while every player aspires to become a role model during their journey to the top, it is only natural for individuals to occasionally fall short of those expectations.
Without referring to any particular controversy from the ongoing Indian Premier League season, Gavaskar observed that the rise of social media has made players’ actions and reactions instantly visible to the public, unlike in earlier eras.
“In the heat of the moment, things happen. It’s not as if anyone deliberately teaches youngsters the wrong things. Anybody can lose their temper, and that is part of human nature,” Gavaskar said. “Once you start achieving success and gaining recognition, everybody tries to become the best role model possible. That’s how most people are brought up,” he said.
“You always want to set the right example. But at the end of the day, we are all human beings, and there will be moments when we fail to meet those standards. The difference now is that everything reaches the public domain far quicker than it did in the past,” Gavaskar added.
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The former India captain also reflected on the camaraderie that existed among cricketers during his playing days, comparing it to the interactions seen between players after IPL matches today.
“Back when we played, there was a tradition where the team that had batted during the day would carry a crate of drinks into the opposition dressing room after stumps,” he recalled.
“At the end of the day’s play, after giving everyone around 20 minutes to cool down, players from both teams would sit together and discuss the game. Out of the 16 members in a touring party, around 10 or 12 would walk into the opposition dressing room and spend time chatting with each other.” He explained that the conversations were not always limited to cricket.
“There would obviously be discussions about the day’s play, but there would also be lighter conversations. If you were touring overseas, you would ask the local players about good restaurants, places to visit, or movies to watch,” he said.
Gavaskar added that he sees a similar culture developing in modern-day franchise cricket. “You can see that in the IPL as well, where players from both teams gather and talk after the game. I think that has become the new tradition now — players meeting, shaking hands, and interacting with one another after matches,” he said.
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