Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has strongly criticised all the foreign cricketers who are questioning the Indian squad selected for the T20 Asia Cup 2025, especially those commenting on Shreyas Iyer’s exclusion from the team. Gavaskar emphasised that Indian cricket is purely an Indian matter, and the selectors do not need opinions from foreign players.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar wrote,
“What is surprising is that some foreigners, who have no contribution to Indian cricket and very little knowledge about it, have jumped into this debate and are adding fuel to the fire. No matter how great they might have been as players or how many times they have visited India, the selection of the Indian team is absolutely none of their business.”
Shreyas Iyer recently led Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final and scored runs, yet he was not picked for the Asia Cup squad. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar has been receiving heavy criticism for this decision, and several former foreign players have also raised questions about the selection.
Reacting to this, Gavaskar said, “They should focus on their own country’s cricket and allow us Indians to take care of ours. Interestingly, when their own national teams are selected, we hardly hear any comments from them. It almost seems as if their selections are always perfect. So why interfere in the selection of the Indian team?”
Although Gavaskar did not take any names, it is widely believed that his remarks were aimed at Brad Haddin and AB de Villiers, who recently commented on Iyer’s exclusion. Haddin, who worked with Iyer at Punjab Kings earlier this year, admitted that he was surprised by the decision and thought Iyer might have been injured. De Villiers also hinted at behind-the-scenes discussions, although he maintained a measured tone.
Gavaskar further explained, “In today’s era of public media, where gaining views and followers has become the main goal, the fastest way to get numbers is by commenting on Indian cricket matters. Most of the time, these comments are negative, which triggers strong reactions from Indian users, ultimately helping them grow their followers.”
He also added that when the Indian team tours overseas, Indian media often interviews former foreign players who are almost forgotten in their own countries.