RCB vs CSK: 1983 World Cup winner reacts to Virat Kohli vs Sunil Gavaskar controversy, attacks RCB legend

Former India cricketer Balwinder Singh Sandhu bashed Virat Kohli for his comments against the criticism expressed by the commentators in IPL 2024.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu's comments were in support of Sunil Gavaskar, who famously called out Virat Kohli for his remarks against the commentators. Balwinder Singh is actually a former teammate of Gavaskar and they were a part of the Indian team which won the country's first major ICC silverware back in 1983.

What did Balwinder Singh Sandhu say about Virat Kohli?

While writing on the Mid-day column, Balwinder Singh Sandhu had a choice of words (cryptically) for Virat Kohli. He totally supported Sunil Gavaskar in claiming that commentators really don't have any personal agenda against the players and that they speak what they see.

In that context, Sandhu claimed that if a senior cricketer makes any comment on the basis of pure facts, then the players should learn to take it positively. The 63-year-old stated that current-generation cricketers must have the openness to go back home and work on the things they are being criticized for instead of coming out and saying more things in response.

Sandhu then destroyed the modern-day cricketers by claiming that they bite back at the senior cricketers so that they can protect their reputation. But most importantly, to retain their large fan base.

"If a senior cricketer in the commentary box makes factually correct comments, the player being criticised should take it as constructive feedback and strive to improve their skills, ensuring performances answer the criticism."

"Instead, players often overreact to protect their reputation and fan base, regardless of whether the comments are personal, issue-based or factually correct," Balwinder Singh Sandhu said via Midday.

All of this began after Virat Kohli went on a rant about the people sitting at the commentary box and giving their opinions on the match situation. That intrigued Sunil Gavaskar to launch an attack of his own, claiming that if cricketers nowadays try to avoid the outside noise of criticism, then it's best for them to not even react to it.

Sunil Gavaskar was actually commenting on the video that was replayed by IPL broadcasters Star Sports. Gavaskar said via the channel that they should refrain from displaying the negative comments of Kohli, calling that a disrespectful gesture towards not only him but also all the commentators in the league.

Balwinder Singh Sandhu shares instance of the past

Balwinder Singh Sandhu then narrated what used to happen during his playing days when a senior cricketer used to criticize a current cricketer. He explained that players in the past used to take criticism lightly and rather constructively.

And in case there was anything over the limit, then the players used to go up to them to personally speak instead of going on a rant during interviews. Sandhu concluded by saying that the cricketers nowadays are more concerned about social media trends and financial gains.

"In the past, players would respond positively to a legend. If he was mistaken, a respectful dialogue would follow. However, today’s players seem more preoccupied with social media and financial gains, often forgetting they function as role models for future generations," Sandhu concluded.