Rohit Sharma allegedly files complaint against Sunil Gavaskar for offensive remarks on him

In an unexpected turn of events, Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has allegedly filed a complaint against former cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar following remarks made about his recent Ranji Trophy performance. The situation has sparked a debate within the cricketing world, drawing attention to the relationship between current and former players.

The controversy began after Mumbai's group-stage Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir at the MCA Ground. In a disappointing outing, Mumbai faced a five-wicket defeat. Rohit Sharma, who returned to domestic cricket, scored only 28 runs in his lone innings, while teammate Shreyas Iyer contributed 11 and 17 runs in two attempts. Their underwhelming performance raised questions about their preparation and focus during the match.

Sunil Gavaskar, regarded as one of the greatest cricketers of all time, openly criticized the batting approach of both Sharma and Iyer. He argued that the aggressive style they adopted is unsuitable for challenging conditions where the ball offers movement. He suggested that a patient, technique-based approach might have been more effective, not only in this match but also in similar situations faced by the Indian team during the recent Sydney Test against Australia.

Gavaskar further questioned the motivation behind their participation in the Ranji Trophy. He implied that the duo might have played merely to maintain their Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) contracts. Gavaskar also pointed out that the inclusion of high-profile players like Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal led to the exclusion of promising Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre, who had been in excellent form with multiple centuries and fifties.

Allegedly upset by these remarks, Rohit Sharma is said to have taken formal action, lodging a complaint against Gavaskar's public statements. While details of the complaint remain undisclosed, sources suggest that Sharma felt the comments unfairly targeted his commitment and integrity as a player.

The incident has divided opinions, with some defending Gavaskar's critique as constructive and others questioning whether such criticism should have been aired publicly.