“If you are only looking for skinny guys, go to a fashion show and find some other models and give them bat and ball in their hands and then correct them.”
Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticized the Chetan Sharma-led All India choice committee for not contemplating flamboyant batsman Sarfaraz Khan for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy regardless of repeatedly proving his mettle in Ranji Trophy matches.
Gavaskar’s opinion comes days after former Indian bowler Venkatesh Prasad defended Sarfaraz Khan’s weight and supported the batsman. Emphasizing on the identical, Gavaskar stated that cricketers are available in all sizes and styles.
“Cricket doesn’t work like this. You have cricketers of all shapes and sizes. Don’t go by size, go by score or wicket. He doesn’t stay out of the ground when he scores a century. He is back on the field again. So, that’s all you get to know if the guy is fit,” Gavaskar instructed India Today.
“How can you score runs? I think in the end if you remain unfit, you will not be able to score a hundred. Cricket fitness is the most important thing. The yo-yo test cannot be the only yardstick. You have to make sure that the person is fit for cricket as well. If the person, whoever it is, is fit for cricket, I don’t think it matters,” Gavaskar stated.
Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Sarfaraz has scored essentially the most runs for Mumbai within the final two Ranji editions, and is second solely to Sir Don Bradman by way of batting common after 53 first-class innings.
In the continued match in opposition to Delhi on the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Khan paved the way in which for Mumbai’s comeback by scoring a century in opposition to run off play. Their 144-run partnership was essential for Mumbai to submit 293 within the first innings.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
