Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has launched a sharp critique of the England cricket team, linking their current batting struggles in the Ashes to their past mockery of Indian players Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar. Gavaskar's comments come as England's aggressive 'Bazball' approach faces intense scrutiny following a tough tour of Australia.
The Context: A Drawn Series and Mocked Centuries
The incident Gavaskar refers to dates back to the final day of the 2021 Test series in England, which ended in a 2-2 draw. In a tense final session at Old Trafford, with the match heading towards a draw, Indian all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar continued batting to reach their personal milestones. Both players were in their 80s and in sight of maiden overseas Test centuries.
This tactical move to tire the English fielders and secure personal landmarks visibly frustrated England captain Ben Stokes. On-field microphones picked up Stokes mockingly asking Jadeja if he wanted to score his century against part-time bowlers, as he sought to protect his main fast bowlers. The episode drew widespread criticism for England's attitude, though Stokes later conceded both Indian players deserved their hundreds.
Gavaskar's Stern Rebuke: Cricket is a Great Leveller
In his column for Mid-Day on January 4, 2026, Gavaskar did not hold back. He stated that the English players who derided Jadeja and Sundar have now learned a hard lesson about the value of a Test century during their Ashes campaign.
"All those English players who mocked Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar when they opted to bat on and get to their centuries will have realised that Test match centuries don’t come every day," Gavaskar wrote. He defended the Indian duo's decision, calling it a "tactical thing" to keep fielders in the sun and stated they were perfectly entitled to pursue their milestones.
Drawing a direct parallel to England's ongoing batting failures, Gavaskar added, "Those who derided and mocked them then are finding in Australia that their bats have only edges or holes in the middle." He concluded with the timeless adage, "Cricket is a great leveller and anybody who shows arrogance gets to learn that very quickly."
England's Ashes Woes and Tactical Backfire
Gavaskar's remarks highlight the broader narrative of England's difficult tour. Under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England's philosophy of relaxed preparations and ultra-aggressive batting has faced a stern test against a potent Australian attack.
While England managed to win the fourth Test after losing the series, and started Day 1 of the fifth Test positively, their batting vulnerabilities have been consistently exposed. The team's approach, which brought them success at home, has largely backfired in Australian conditions, leading to debates about the sustainability of their methods in all environments.
Gavaskar's pointed commentary underscores a classic cricketing lesson: respect for the game and the opposition is paramount, as fortunes can change rapidly, turning past mockery into present-day humility.
