Sunil Gavaskar
Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has criticised the trend of bowlers taking personal drink breaks in between overs during the IPL.

In a column for Sportstar, the 75-year-old cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disapproval of the practice of bowlers taking personal drink breaks in between overs, arguing that it undermines the designated drink intervals and grants bowlers an unfair advantage.

“In cricket, the modern practice of bowlers, especially the quick ones, getting a refreshing drink on the boundary line where they go to field after completing their over is an example of the authorities turning a blind eye to the practice,” Gavaskar wrote.

Sunil Gavaskar questioned the purpose of designated drink breaks if bowlers are already hydrating themselves after each over. He pointed out that batters, who might exert themselves running between the wickets or scoring runs, are not afforded the same opportunity for refreshment during the over.

“Why have the drinks interval then if bowlers are going to get themselves hydrated after going flat out for six deliveries? Mind you, the batter doesn’t get the chance to have a drink after an over where they may have taken eight runs or so, which are all runs,” he argued.

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Gavaskar urged cricket authorities to implement stricter regulations and for match officials to enforce them more rigorously. “Cricket is also a game where stamina and endurance matter, no matter what the format is. So frankly, it should go back to the days when drinks were taken only after every hour of play and before that only with the permission of the opposition captain and umpires,” added Gavaskar.

Gavaskar expressed concern that allowing bowlers mid-over drinks breaks sets a bad precedent and disrupts the flow of the game. “Once the umpires looked the other way and allowed one bowler to do that, it became a trend, making a mockery of the drink interval,” he remarked.

The former Indian opener also called for the third umpire and match referee to ensure that substitute players do not enter the field to provide drinks to bowlers during overs but remain outside the boundary line as per the rules.

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Last Updated on July 18, 2024