Asked whether the advanced protective equipment encourages players to play aggressively during a public event organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs London, ex-India skipper said that it’s not just the protective gear, but the financial stability from T20 leagues allows cricketers to play an aggressive brand of cricket.
“It is not just the protective gear. I think it is the cushion that they have in terms of the T20 leagues that they can be part of.
When we played, whatever income we got, 500 rupees or when I finished playing cricket, it was 5,000 rupees for a Test match, that was extra income for us,”
Sunil Gavaskar stated.
World cricket has seen a massive shift since the inception of T20 cricket in how players, especially youngsters, approach the game. They’re fearless, focus more on six-hitting, take even the fastest bowlers head on. There’s a general idea that the players can play with this mindset because of the much advanced protective equipment.
Gavaskar, however, believes that financial security plays a huge role in it as well. He further revealed that if the players in the past didn’t grab the opportunities, they had to go back, doing the regular jobs.
“Today that worry or fear is not there. You have the IPL, the Big Bash, there is also the Hundred. The batsman thinks,
“I’ll go bang-bang. So what if I score quick runs, I get out. Never mind”. That cushion. It is a mental thing,”
he added.
