Sunil Gavaskar takes swipe at Lakshya Sen’s Olympic performance with Rohit Sharma’s signature phrase

The Paris Olympics 2024 have stirred mixed emotions among Indian sports fans, and now Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Lakshya Sen’s performance in Rohit Sharma’s famous style.

Following the underwhelming performance of Indian athletes, particularly in badminton, at the Paris Olympics 2024, Prakash Padukone's harsh criticism of the contingent has sparked debate among the sports fraternities.

India’s journey in the Paris Olympics 2024 has been a rollercoaster. After a record-setting seven medals in Tokyo 2020, there were high expectations this time around. Unfortunately, India could secure only six medals, but the performance in badminton left many more frustrated.

Sunil Gavaskar slams Lakshya Sen’s disappointing show at the Paris Olympics 2024 in Rohit Sharma's words

Since 2012, Indian badminton players have consistently brought home medals from the Olympics. However, this streak came to an end in Paris on Monday, August 12. After Satwik Sairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty failed to reach the semifinals in the doubles, Lakshya Sen made history by becoming the first Indian male shuttler to reach an Olympic semi-final.

However, despite having an early advantage in his match against Malaysia's Lee Zii Jia, Lakshya Sen lost in a grueling three-game battle, missing out on the bronze medal, leaving the coach-mentor Padukone and Sunil Gavaskar frustrated at the young shuttler.

In the wake of such performances, Indian badminton legend Padukone has expressed his frustration, criticizing the athletes for not capitalizing on the substantial support from the government and other stakeholders. His comments have sparked controversy, but Sunil Gavaskar extended support to the legend.

The former Indian cricket team captain mentioned that during the semifinal and bronze medal matches, Lakshya seemed to lose focus and concentration, which was evident from his blank expressions while handling his racquet and sipping water.

Lakshya Sen was garden mein ghoomne wala ladka in Olympics: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar pointed out that such signs often indicate a wandering mind, which is difficult for coaches or trainers to instill, saying concentration and focus are things that no coach or trainer can ever teach to the athletes. The legendary batter used Indian captain Rohit’s well-known phrase "Garden Main Ghoomne Vala" to describe Lakshya’s performance in the Olympics.

Sunil Gavaskar wrote in a column for Sportstar: “As far back as 2017/18, Prakash, who I unfortunately meet rarely, had told me about this kid, Lakshya Sen. He had taken him under his wing and was his guide and mentor. He would have watched Lakshya's progress step by step. As he came to the cusp of an Olympic medal, Prakash was by the courtside along with the hard-working and indefatigable Vimal Kumar to see the fulfillment of not just Lakshya's dream but also that of the entire community of Indian badminton lovers.”

Sunil Gavaskar added, “To then see a 20-17 and 7-0 lead being squandered off in the semifinal (vs Viktor Axelsen) and then lose the bronze medal match (vs Lee Zee Jia) after winning the first game comfortably must have been gut-wrenching indeed. He, Vimal Kumar, the BAI, and the government's TOPS had done everything possible, but when it came to the crunch, Lakshya was, in the famous words of the Indian cricket team captain (Rohit Sharma), 'garden mein ghoomne wala.'”