Sunil Gavaskar claims that it was Team India that incited the sledging war

The Virat Kohli-Tim Paine saga has stirred up a major controversy. The two skippers were involved in a very edgy altercation just before lunch on day 4 of the second Test. Further, they exchanged a few harsh words before the umpire decided to intervene. Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was highly critical of the Indian team for their on-field antics.

From a distance, it appeared as if it was the Indian skipper who started off the sledging war. He intentionally stood in Paine’s way and decided to exchange some pleasantries. Hence, Virat has been slammed by one and all for this shambolic behaviour. Even Sanjay Manjrekar was highly critical about the 30-year-old and noted that he has got to be more responsible.

We have not been saints either

Gavaskar believes that it was the Indians who started the sledging war now and even back in 2014. He noted that they haven’t been saints either. The former opener further added that it isn’t in our DNA to play cricket like that.

“Tim Paine is not in the Indian dressing room… So how does he know Vijay does not like Kohli?,” Gavaskar told India Today.

“These are the kind of things which are called gamesmanship. We have not been saints either. Way back in 2014, when Australia were down with the tragic death of Phillip Hughes, we started it. They were too shocked in the first Test and we started it.

“In a situation like this, we will always lose. Australia are used to playing like that, we are not. It’s not in our DNA to play cricket like that. You also have to take into account if everyone in the team can take it. Even over here, we have started it,” the former Indian opener said.

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