Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at Virat Kohli following Ben Stokes dismissal

Former Indian skipper and current commentator for the ongoing series between India and England Sunil Gavaskar has lashed out at incumbent Indian skipper Virat Kohli following his send-off for England batsman Ben Stokes when the latter was dismissed by Ravi Ashwin.

While Stokes has a history of inflammatory behavior, Kohli also involved himself in what was a seriously unnecessary banter by putting his index finger on his lips, in effect, telling Ben Stokes to ‘shut-up’ and move along on his way back to the haven of the pavilion. Sunil Gavaskar has been vocal about sledging in recent times and has lashed out at the Indian skipper for the same.

“Whatever was said, it really needs to be nipped in the bud. You have got the batsman out, why do you need to give him a send-off?” Gavaskar said. “Why say anything? Just congratulate your team-mates and Parthiv Patel for a fine piece of work on his comeback. But why say anything to the batsman? He’s upset as it is. Then what, rub salt into the wounds? It’s the one part of cricket I do not approve of at all,” he added.

Even Jonny Bairstow had a few words to say about the entire ordeal. “I didn’t actually hear anything because there are a lot of squealing people in the crowds. I couldn’t (tell you) the exact words that were said.

“It’s something that’s probably going more out of the game, verbals and things like that. If you go back 10 years it was a bigger part of the game. But I think you’ve also got to respect you’ve got guys out there who are very passionate, representing their country in the heat of battle. “At some point, there are going to be words said. That’s the nature of professional sport. But I don’t know what was said. I don’t really get too involved with all that kind of stuff,” Bairstow was quoted as saying by the British media.