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“Who Cares?”: When Travis Head Found Humour In Gavaskar’s Hazlewood Injury Doubts

Aakash Saini

Travis Head and Sunil Gavaskar [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @Pandeyshruti252/x]Travis Head and Sunil Gavaskar [Source: @mufaddal_vohra, @Pandeyshruti252/x]

Sunil Gavaskar, with his sharp eye for detail and a penchant for raising questions that others often overlook, has long carried the reputation of sparking intriguing debates in the commentary box. On one such occasion, his remarks about Josh Hazlewood’s fitness drew a light-hearted response from Australian firebrand batter Travis Head, who chose humour over concern.

Back in late 2024, during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series in Australia, Gavaskar had questioned the timing of Hazlewood’s side strain injury, noting that it came just days after the legendary fast bowler had criticised his batting teammates for a shambolic loss to India in the series opener.

When Sunil Gavaskar “Surprised” Travis Head

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the second Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy home series against India owing to a side strain injury. The timing of the injury itself, however, did not sit well with Sunil Gavaskar, who alleged a rift within the Australian team, considering the injured fast bowler had criticised his batting teammates just a few days prior.

Defending his team’s honour, Australian middle-order batter Travis Head downplayed Sunil Gavaskar’s comments, calling them “pretty funny” with no base to his claims. While speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Head responded back by saying:

“I was surprised at Sunny's comments. They were pretty funny. He's in the entertainment business as a few teams around the world would say. He's in the commentary team. If that makes it more fun for him, then go for it. Dropping 'Hoff' (Hazlewood) and throwing a couple of daggers and shooting across the bow, but who cares? It is what it is. Everyone is paid to have an opinion.”

Nonetheless, Australia fought back with a comprehensive 10-wicket win against India at the Adelaide Oval to bring the series to levelling terms. Travis Head himself bludgeoned a near run-a-ball 140 in the Test to win the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Despite Josh Hazlewood’s absence for a large of the series, Australia won the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy title by a 3-1 margin, with Head notching up 448 runs to deliver one of the headline performances for Australia.