IND vs ENG: Sunil Gavaskar furious with BCCI for taking 3 days to wear black armbands in tribute to Dattajirao Gaekwad

Sunil Gavaskar slammed BCCI for taking 3 days to wear black armbands in tribute to Dattajirao Gaekwad.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian cricket team for taking three days to wear black armbands in the memory of the former Indian cricketer Dattajirao Gaekwad during the ongoing crucial third test match between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot.

This came after the Indian cricket team wore black armbands in memory of former Indian cricketer Gaekwad on day 3 (Saturday) of the ongoing Rajkot test, which started on February 15.

The former Indian skipper, Dattajirao Gaekwad, who represented 11 Tests for India between 1951 and 1962, passed away on February 13 after remaining hospitalized for 12 days. Aged 95, he was India’s oldest living test cricketer. However, Gaekwad was the father of the former Indian batter Anshuman Gaekwad.

The right-handed batter Gaekwad, who could bowl both medium pace and leg-break, was India’s captain during the 1959 tour of England.

Earlier, the BCCI board paid tribute to the former Indian skipper Dattajirao on social handle ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter) on February 13.

In the post, BCCI wrote, “The BCCI expresses its profound grief at the passing away of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer. He played in 11 Tests and led the team during India’s Tour of England in 1959. Under his captaincy, Baroda also won the Ranji Trophy in the 1957-58 season, beating Services in the final. The Board expresses its heartfelt condolences to Gaekwad’s family, friends, and admirers.”

‘Better late than never’ – responds Sunil Gavaskar

Ahead of day 3 of the ongoing third test match between India and England, the BCCI announced that the Rohit Sharma-led side will take the field wearing black arm bands.

“Team India will be wearing black armbands in memory of Dattajirao Gaekwad, former India captain and India’s oldest Test cricketer who passed away recently,” BCCI said in a release before the start of day 3 of the third test match.

Reacting to this, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar was unhappy that it wasn’t done on day 1 of the ongoing Rajkot test.

“Better late than never… they should’ve done it on Day 1 but better late than never,” Sunil Gavaskar said on commentary as the players took the field.

“He was captain of the Indian team in a five-match series. He captained four out of the five matches and the other one was captained by Pankaj Roy,” said Gavaskar.

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