Sunil Gavaskar exposes dirty trick of ex-Pakistan players to increase social media followers

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Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has exposed the truth behind the "uncomplimentary" remarks of former Pakistan cricketers on star India players.

Gavaskar has stated that players from across the borders bring down Team India players to increase their followers on social media. The cricketer-turned-commentator also took a dig at Indian media, especially online, for paying attention and giving space to their belittling comment on Indian cricketers.

The comments from the 73-year-old came while talking about the impact of IPL in improving the relations between players from two countries. Players with no IPL contracts are the ones involved in on-field altercations these days, as per Gavaskar.

"While there will always be a bit of banter between players, the angry and sometimes vulgar exchanges are a thing of the past. Today, if there are any such issues, it's invariably between players who don't play the IPL and thus have a bit of resentment towards the Indian players who play against them. Some of them believe that their achievements are such that they should be getting more than the Indian player, who gets millions through the IPL," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.

"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, increasing the followers of the former player from across the border," added Gavaskar.

Gavaskar exposes dirty tricks of ex-Pakistan players

"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."

IPL help improve relation between India and Australia players

Further, Gavaskar reckoned that the IPL has helped reduce animosity between the India and Australia players who now are aware about each other's culture and attitude. He added that the intensity between the top two ranked Test teams continues and that's healthy for the game.

"When two of the top-ranked teams play against each other, then sparks are bound to fly. However, since the IPL began, the animosity between players of the two teams has lessened considerably while the intensity hasn't reduced one bit and that's how it should be. Sharing the same change room, hotels and travelling to different venues over a period of six weeks to play has made the players get to know each other better, understand the different cultures and attitudes and approaches to the game,"

Notably, India and Australia are currently involved in a 4-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After India won the first Test by an innings and 132 runs, Allan Border had slammed Steve Smith for being too friendly against the hosts. Alex Carey had defended Smith, saying he shares a cordial relation with many players in the Indian dressing room.