Sunil Gavaskar Labels The Hundred Tournament As 'Insipid'

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his displeasure towards the ongoing ‘The Hundred’ tournament in England. The Hundred kickstarted this month after suffering a postponement last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, Sunil Gavaskar has pointed out several flaws with the competition.

The Hundred, organized by the England Cricket Board (ECB), is a 100-ball tournament got underway on the 21st of July with the women’s competition occurring first between The Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals at the Oval. The men’s edition started a day later.

Sunil Gavaskar, who watched it on TV, remarked that the tournament appeared insipid as the coverage looks mediocre, observing mistakes in the player information. The 72-year old stated that former English cricketers would have torn apart had such things happened in India. The 125-Test veteran believes the on-field experience might be excellent; however, the first impressions aren’t as good.

“Having seen it on TV, the only word that comes to mind is insipid. The cricket is ordinary and the coverage average with basic mistakes in player information. If made in the sub-continent, would have been mocked at especially by the former England players, not to speak of the headlines that the tabloids would have generated. The former players are raving about the crowds but here too as yet the fierce loyalty of the franchise fans is not seen. Maybe, the experience at the ground is different but as far as first impressions go, it’s not been a great one,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-day.

It may take a little more time to get the hearts of the spectators: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar further claimed that, unlike IPL that got off with Brendon McCullum’s blazing hundred, The Hundred has not done it. Hence, the cricketer-turned-commentator believes the tournament could take time to get in the people’s hearts.

“Unlike the IPL, which was given a vertical take-off by Brendon McCullum’s incredible innings in the very first match, The Hundred hadn’t quite got that and so may take a little more time to get the hearts of the spectators,” he added.

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