Sunny goes all out for sonny. Review on Sunil Gavaskar

This is not a full-fledged review but one small point that I would like to raise here.

I agree that Sunil Gavaskar is the best ever opener that Indian cricket has had been blessed with. Technically, the most polished, his records speak for his ability as a batsman.

Even as a commentator, Sunil Gavaskar has shown that he is right there at the top with the likes of Ian and Greg Chappel and Harsh Bhogle. His English is flawless and he is absolutely unbiased, even when it comes to his ladla Sachin Tendulkar.

However, these days he has a new chaheeta in the form of sonny boy Rohan Gavaskar.

And this is where my problem begins.

Every time Rohan comes on to bowl, bat or is seen fielding, papa Gavaskar is misty eyed and basking under the praise showered by his co-commentators.

Rohan scored a half-century and Sunny was seen standing outside the commentator’s box, applauding.

Sunnyji, this is not professionalism. Please treat Rohan, not as your son publicly, but as an individual cricketer who is getting the honor of representing India.

For me this betaism is getting a bit too much. I think Sunil Gavaskar should stop indulging in direct favoritism. Today, it’s me, tomorrow others are going to raise this issue. As it is, there are a few whispers that Rohan’s inclusion in the Indian team is a result of some promise that Jagmohan Dalmiya had made to his father some time back. Even the media is getting overawed with the situation. People like Rajan Bala (the famous journalist who writes in Asian Age), Allan Border, Ravi Shastri, and Ian Chappel are going on and on about how proud Sunil Gavaskar must be these days.

But for this, Sunil Gavaskar is one cricketer who will always command my respect. However, for this little human failing, I will not recommend him.

Now here’s a little joke that I heard. Let me share it with you.

Sunil Gavaskar was invited to a premiere show of a film Gavaskar, in Melbourne. Excited that a film was made about his cricketing exploits, Sunny made it to the premiere with biwi, beta, and bahu in tow. But to his dismay, the film was about everything else but Sunil Gavaskar the cricketer. A disappointed Gavaskar went backstage and met the director.

Director: We’ve taken our revenge mate. After all you guys too had made a film called Border.