‘Which generation, what exactly is bullying?’ – Sunil Gavaskar slams Sony guest Hussain on air
India’s batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and former England skipper Nasser Hussain were involved in a contentious exchange during the pre-match show for Day 1 of the third Test of the ongoing series at Headingley on Wednesday (August 25).
Gavaskar had a go at Hussain for his written implication that the Indian teams of the “previous generations” were bullied on England trips, unlike the one led by Virat Kohli right now.
Hussain, writing his Daily Mail column after India’s famous win at Lord’s in the second Test, mentioned how “this India are not a side who will be bullied, as perhaps previous generations have been” while talking in high praise for Kohli’s team and its in-your-face attitude.
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Sunil Gavaskar takes offence to Nasser Hussain’s “bullied” implication.
Sunil Gavaskar takes Nasser Hussain to task over “bullied” remark
In a conversation for Indian broadcaster Sony Sports Network, Sunil Gavaskar queried Hussain as to what he meant by the suggestion that the Indian teams of the past were “bullied”?
“You said this India will not be bullied as perhaps the previous generations would be. (Me) Belonging to previous generation, could you perhaps enlighten which generation? And what is the exact meaning of bully?” Gavaskar first asked.
To this, Hussain responded: “I just think, the Indian side under the aggression of the past, would have said ‘no no no’. But what Kohli has done is to make them go doubly hard. I saw a little bit of that in Sourav Ganguly’s side and he started that, Virat is continuing with it. Even when Virat was not there, Ajinkya really went hard at the Australians. I just don’t think you want to wake this Indian side up.”
Hearing that, Gavaskar reminded Hussain that the first team he toured England as a Test cricketer in 1971, the Indian team led by Ajit Wadekar historically won the series 1-0, a feat they repeated 15 years later when they dominated the Englishmen 2-0 in another three-match series.
“But when you say previous generations were bullied, I don’t think so. I’d be very upset if my generation was being talked about as being bullied,” Gavaskar stood absolutely clear.
“If you have a look at the record, in 1971 we won, that was my first tour in England. 1974, we had internal problems so we lost 3-0. 1979, we lost 1-0, it could have been 1-1 if we chased down 438 at the Oval. 1982 we again lost 1-0. In 1986 we won 2-0, we could have won it 3-0.”
“So, I don’t think my generation we were bullied. I don’t think aggression means you have always got to be at the face of the opposition. You can show passion, you can show your commitment towards your team without yelling after each fall of wicket.”
Hussain, though, only repeated that he find the Kohli led Indian side “fearless” and that he admires their willingness to “unleash fire on this English side”. Gavaskar clarified that he has “no argument” against that, but he finds it offensive the suggestion that the Indian teams before Virat Kohli’s era were “bullied”.
“There is no argument in that. The question is saying that the previous generations were bullied. I don’t think this is right,” Gavaskar concluded.