Sunil Gavaskar complimented Shane Warne’s contribution to cricket, but claimed the Australian was not the best spinner of all time.
Sunil Gavaskar, an Indian batting star, expressed his shock at the unexpected death of Australian spin legend Shane Warne. Warne’s contribution to cricket was lauded by Gavaskar, although the Australian was not the best spinner of all time, according to Gavaskar. “Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were clearly better than Warne,” the Indian batting legend and former India skipper stated on a broadcast on India Today. The Australian spinner died of a suspected heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand, on Friday at the age of 52.
“For me, the Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were certainly better than Warne. Because look at Warne’s record against India. It was pretty ordinary against India,” Gavaskar commented on India Today.
“Because he didn’t have much success against Indian players, who are very good players of spin bowling, I don’t think I would call him the greatest. I think, Muttiah Muralitharan with the success that he had against India would rank over him in my book.”
“He was always looking to live life fully, king size as they call it and he did that and maybe because he lived life in such a manner is perhaps the reason why his heart couldn’t take it and he passed away so soon,” Gavaskar said.
Some of Warne’s social media fans were irritated by Gavaskar’s comments and his remark about Australians’ lifestyle.
Shane Warne has 708 Test wickets and 293 one-day international wickets, but Gavaskar believes Sri Lankan spinner Muralitharan is a “rank over him.”
“Sunil Gavaskar uses Shane Warne’s death an an opportunity to say that Indian spinners and Muralitharan were better, because of their records against India. Honestly, Sunny, it’s not the time.. could have just sidestepped it. The body isn’t even cold yet,” wrote another user.
Warne’s death followed that of fellow Australian great, wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, at the age of 74.
“Within the space of 24 hours, the cricket world has lost two giants of the game, not just Australian cricket but the cricket world. Rodney Marsh and then Shane Warne. This is unbelievable. Hard to come to grips with,” Gavaskar said.
