Sunil Gavaskar Echoes Rohit Sharma's Call for 'Bhookh', Wants Loyalty for Their 'Money, Fame and Recognition'

Sunil Gavaskar (Image: AFP)

Sunil Gavaskar said Rohit Sharma’s stern message for aspirants wanting to make the national Test team was ‘absolutely right’.

“Jin logon ko bhookh hai, hum unhi logon ko mauka denge (We will give opportunities to only those who are hungry),” Rohit said during the post-match press conference.

“Agar hunger nahi hai to unko khila ke koi matlab nahi hai (There’s point in playing those who don’t have the hunger),” he added.

Gavaskar said Rohit was correct adding that money, fame and recognition the cricketers get is all because of Indian cricket so they should show loyalty.

“He’s absolutely right. The ones who want to play Test cricket, you look at them. I’ve been saying this for years. The players are what they are because of Indian cricket. The stage of life and career they are at, is all because of Indian cricket. The money, fame and recognition that they have got is because of Indian cricket. So you’ve got to show some loyalty towards Indian cricket,” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.

“And if you don’t show that for whatever reasons and say ‘I won’t play, won’t play that’ Rohit is absolutely right in saying the ones who have the hunger, the ones who are willing to put the effort, will be given more opportunities going ahead. If this is the attitude of the selectors then it will be good for Indian cricket. We’ve seen many players pick and choose, this shouldn’t happen,” Gavaskar added.

Without naming names, Gavaskar lashed out Indian crickters skipping domestic matches to prepare for the Indian Premier League.

“Maybe they have decided not to play Test cricket for India. They don’t have the ability, they don’t have the hunger like Rohit said. So which form of domestic cricket they didn’t play? The Ranji Trophy. It is the longer format with red balls. So you can’t do anything,” he said.

Gavaskar also urged the BCCI to make changes to the Indian cricket calendar.

“I would request BCCI to start the Ranji season in October and finish it in December. Then you hold the white-ball tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s. This will also give practice to the players playing in the IPL. From December to February India play Test matches either at home or abroad so if the Ranji Trophy is hosted before that then the young players will also be ready,” he said.