It wasn't right time for any comparison, evaluation: Sunil Gavaskar speaks on his ‘honest opinion'

Sunil Gavaskar, the former Indian batter took to social media to post an apology after he was criticised for his comments about the deceased Shane Warne. 

The Australian leg-spinner who breathed his last in Thailand last week is hailed as the greatest of all time by most of the experts and fans. However, Gavaskar has a different take on this and he went to share the same once he was asked about the same on national television after the unfortunate incident.

Gavaskar was asked if Warne is the greatest spinner, to which he replied, “Look at Shane Warne’s record against India. It was pretty ordinary. In India, he got five wickets only once in Nagpur, and that too because Zaheer Khan swung wildly against him to give him a fifer. 

“Because he did not have much success against Indian players who were very good players of spin, I don’t think I would call him the greatest. Muttiah Muralitharan, with a greater success he had against India, I would rank him over Warne in my book.”

His comments seemed harsh to the netizens, and he was criticised for the same. So Gavaskar posted a video message seeking an apology for giving his ‘honest opinion’ on the leggie. 

The 72-year old further recited, "Last week was a very traumatic time for cricket fraternity as in 24 hours, we lost two icons of the game - Rodney Marsh and Shane Warne. On TV, I was asked by an anchor whether Warne was the greatest spinner and I gave my honest opinion."

He further added, “In hindsight, that question should not have been asked nor should it have been answered as it was not the right time for any comparison or evaluation.

He continued, “Warne was one of the greatest cricketers to have ever graced the game. Rodney Marsh too was one of the greatest wicketkeepers the game has seen. May their souls rest in eternal peace.”

Meanwhile, Warne’s untimely death has shattered the cricket world and his fans and friends are yet struggling to accept it. 

The heavenly-aboard, who claimed 708 Test wickets and 293 ODI wickets, is placed at second on the list of all-time just behind Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka (1,347).