From hero to adorning a sideshow
Sunil Gavaskar, was, and always will be, the pioneer of modern Indian cricket, according to Tom Alter
Akhila Ranganna
25-Feb-2013
Sunil Gavaskar, was, and always will be, the pioneer of modern Indian cricket, according to Tom Alter. However, today, Alter writes on firstpost.com, he sees his childhood cricket hero escorted into a television study, decorated with the fake ribbons of a game which he graced and made his own.
Forced to make glib chat with people whose knowledge of his sport would have been a deep insult to him in his playing days. Forced to make an entry to the sound of a blaring band and blaring words. While cricket; his cricket; our cricket – is reduced to a sideshow of a sideshow. And yet he plays along – trying, somehow, to maintain some little dignity amongst the crass glitter.
Sunil Gavaskar – did he have to? Sunil, did you have to?
Akhila Ranganna is assistant editor (Audio) at ESPNcricinfo