Gavaskar defends selectors, slams foreign interference
The omission of Shreyas Iyer from India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad has triggered heated reactions across the cricket world — but none louder than Sunil Gavaskar’s. In a pointed column for Sportstar, the former India captain tore into overseas critics for what he called unwelcome and ill-informed interference in Indian cricket matters.
“What is baffling is foreigners who have zero stake in Indian cricket, and much less knowledge about it, wading into the debate and adding fuel to the fire. However great they may be as players and however many times they may have been to India, the selection of the Indian team is strictly none of their business,” Gavaskar wrote.
The controversy was ignited when Shreyas Iyer — who led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final just a season after winning the title with Kolkata Knight Riders — was left out of India’s squad, despite averaging over 50 and striking at 175 in the latest IPL season. His omission sparked backlash from fans and media, and also drew responses from former international stars including AB de Villiers and Brad Haddin.
AB de Villiers and Haddin weigh in
AB de Villiers, speaking during a #360Live session on X (formerly Twitter), reflected on Iyer’s credentials and hinted at behind-the-scenes politics.
“He’s matured a lot. He has shown a lot of leadership qualities, but who knows what is going on behind closed doors? No one. Not me. Not you guys,” de Villiers explained.
“Maybe not even Shreyas knows. But there might be a few things that have taken place over the years that have determined why he’s not the flavour of the month for a certain tournament. He’s a quality player. He’ll be in my team more often than not,” he added.
Brad Haddin, who worked with Iyer at Punjab Kings, shared his disbelief on the Willow Talk podcast.
“Well, one, leadership qualities. Two, the style of player he is under pressure, and he’s someone that everyone plays better with when he’s on the team. I had no idea. I first thought when I was reading it that he was injured, but he’s not. So, it’s a strange decision for me because he brings so much to the game. I actually thought he was going to be captain. Extraordinary selection,” Haddin said.
Gavaskar: ‘Focus on your country’s cricket’
While Iyer’s omission remains a focal point, Gavaskar took a broader view — questioning why foreign experts feel entitled to pass judgment on Indian selections, while rarely commenting on decisions in their own countries.
“They should focus on their country’s cricket and let us Indians worry about our cricket. Amazingly, when their country’s teams are selected, there’s hardly anything, if ever, heard from them about the selection. 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?” Gavaskar added.
Cricket commentary as social media currency
According to Gavaskar, the recent wave of foreign commentary is not about cricketing insight, but about visibility and engagement in the social media era.
“Today, in the days of public media, where getting views and followers is the theme, one of the fastest ways to increase the numbers is by commenting on matters Indian. And mostly, they do it negatively, so there is a huge reaction from Indian keyboard users, which in turn boosts their follower count,” he observed.
This criticism comes as many ex-players now operate media platforms, podcasts, or YouTube channels where cricket commentary doubles as content strategy. Gavaskar suggests that India — with its massive, engaged cricket fanbase — is the most effective target to drive traffic and gain attention.
Indian media under fire too
Gavaskar didn’t just direct his frustration at overseas voices. He also called out Indian media for routinely seeking foreign validation, often prioritizing irrelevant or outdated figures simply because they come from abroad.
“How often, on overseas tours, do we see members of the Indian media chasing former players from the host country – players whom even their own nation has almost forgotten – for an interview? It’s almost as if validation about Indian cricket and its cricketers has to be obtained from overseas players,” Gavaskar concluded.
A larger pattern in Indian cricket
The uproar around Iyer’s omission reflects a deeper tension within Indian cricket — where selection decisions become national talking points and attract attention from voices far beyond India’s borders. But for Gavaskar, the line is clear: debate is welcome, but when it comes to India’s cricket team, it’s time for foreign critics to step aside.
