"Business Of India Bashing...": Sunil Gavaskar Slams Michael Vaughan's 'Sachin Tendulkar-Joe Root' Take

Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar has said the business of bashing India has to be countered with aggression, citing the recent comments made on the possibility of Joe Root surpassing Sachin Tendulkar as the leading run-getter in men's Test cricket. In an episode of the Club Prairie Fire podcast, former England captain Michael Vaughan had said it's just a matter of time when Root becomes leading run-getter in Tests. At the same time, he added the BCCI will do everything possible in its power to ensure that the record stays with an Indian batter.

"I can say with experience of more than 50 years that it's not just the Indian crowds who are silent when their team is not doing well but crowds in every country. If there is some noise when, say, India is doing well overseas, it's because of the number of Indian supporters who travel long distances from India and who cheer for them and not the locals."

"So next time, when some commentator or media person from overseas tries to talk about the silence of the Indian crowd when India is not doing well, we should ask them why their supporters haven't come to cheer for their team. This business of India bashing has to be countered with aggression because that's the only language they understand.

"Recently, I heard someone saying it would be good for Test cricket if Joe Root overtook Sachin Tendulkar's record for most runs and centuries in Test match cricket. Please tell us what's wrong with Test cricket presently when Tendulkar is owning the record and how will Test cricket be better if (and that's a huge if) an Englishman goes on to hold it. In what way will it be better? Kindly enlighten us,” wrote Gavaskar in his column for Sportstar on Thursday.

He also expressed surprise over the