IPL Spotfixing: Sunil Gavaskar caught between the 'real' and the 'fixed'
After the spot-fixing scandal broke out last week, former Test batsman said he felt like an idiot when commentating on Indian Premier League games.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: May 21, 2013 02:18 PM IST
Saying that he has not lost faith in the way cricket is played, Sunil Gavaskar admits he has in "the last few days" wondered if a delivery has been genuinely bowled or not!
Gavaskar, who is commentating on the Indian Premier League games, has clearly been left foxed by the allegations of spot-fixing on three Rajasthan Royals players, including former Test pacer Sreesanth. (Read: Rajasthan terminate contracts of Sreesanth and other tainted players)
"I still love the game very much. You feel despondent after your team loses but you always go back to cricket because it has given you so much in life," Gavaskar told NDTV in an exclusive chat.
One of the most respected pundits of the game, Gavaskar however admitted "in the last few days" he has wondered if a ball have been bowled with "genuine cricketing intention". (Track latest developments of the spot-fixing case here)
"Yes, sometimes things happen and I shake my head and (convince myself) saying 'it's due to a genuine cricketing reason.' This is happening a little more in the last few days," Gavaskar said tongue-in-cheek.
Saying T20 cricket is not the only format that is susceptible to 'fixing', Gavaskar said: "I still tell myself that the unexpected things happen and there is a genuine reason for it."
Not sure if match-fixing will ever be controlled by the lawmakers, Gavaskar says: "Bookies will always try to influence matches. Players will remain vulnerable and anyone placing a bet will always want to win." He said legislations are fine but may not be able to eradicate the menace completely. (Watch: How bookies use models to lure IPL players)
"Can you notice something unnatural once in a 40-over match?" he asked, only highlighting the fact that bookies forever will remain smart and players, no matter how rich they are, gullible.