India and Pakistan share possibly cricket's fiercest rivalry. When they face off, it's called the Mother Of All Battles and it's always a full house no matter what the venue and the mood are electric. But ever since the internet has gained prominence, a large number of former Pakistan players are taking a dig at Indian players for their performances. Sunil Gavaskar has now responded to this trend from that side of the border.?
Gavaskar said it was only a trick by the ex-Pak players to increase their followers from India online. They know Indian fans would quickly come to the defence of their players whenever they are criticised.
"What the following for the game also does is to make the media, especially the online media, look to get more eyeballs or followers and so anything to do with cricket and especially about Indian players gets into the public domain even if it actually belittles them. That's the sad part especially when the views of those across the border get online in the Indian media. It's almost a daily thing to hear some former player from across the border pulling down an Indian player and saying the Pakistani player is better. What these guys know is that they will immediately get a response from the Indian fans who will defend their favourite player and in doing so, increase the followers of the former player from across the border," Gavaskar wrote in his Mid-Day column, as per TNN.?
The legendary opener and 1983 World Cup winner maintained that it is not our style to say anything negative about Pakistani players because nobody is bothered.?
"It's a trick that is used by them knowing that to increase their followers all that they have to do is say uncomplimentary stuff about Indian players, past or present. Have you ever heard or read any Indian player past or present saying anything about the players from across the border? Frankly, nobody cares, so no Indian that I know has said anything about the players from across the border. It's simply not our style. If our online media ignores what is said across the border then it will automatically stop, but our media will publish it even if it is pulling a fellow Indian down," he added.?