'Blessed to have a ground named after me'- Sunil Gavaskar receives a huge honour

Legendary Indian batter, Sunil Gavaskar is regarded as one of the best batsmen to have ever played the game. The former India batter was the first cricketer to breach the 10,000 international-run mark and once held the record for the most number of centuries (34) at one point.

The former India batter is still remembered for facing destructive West Indies bowling without a helmet. Additionally, Gavaskar was also part of the Indian team that won India's first World Cup (1983) under the leadership of  Kapil Dev. In what has come as a great honor to the ex-India cricketer, a cricket ground in Leichester has been named after him.

Taking to social media, Sunil Gavaskar announced the news, writing, "Blessed to have a ground in Leicester named after me. This is a recognition not for me but for all those who played with me from tennis ball days to the internationals, my family and last but not least, my fans and well-wishers. Thank you all for being part of this unforgettable journey.”

 

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Recently Gavaskar was in the news for his comments on Virat Kohli’s poor reign of form. The star Indian batter hasn’t scored a single century since November 2019. On the recently concluded England tour, Kohli scored a total of 45 runs in ODIs and T20I combined.

"If I had about 20 minutes with him, I would be able to tell him the things he might have to do. It might help him, I am not saying it will help him but it could, particularly with regards to that off-stump line," Gavaskar told India Today.

"Having been an opening batter, having been troubled by that line, there are certain things that you try and do. If I get 20 minutes with him, I might be able to tell him.

"It goes back to the fact that his first mistake turns out to be his last. Again, just because he is not amongst the runs, there is this anxiety to play at every delivery because that is what batters feel, they have got to score. You look to play at deliveries that you otherwise won't. But he has gotten out to good deliveries as well on this particular tour."