T20 World Cup 2026: Sunil Gavaskar Criticizes Fan Chants For Jasprit Bumrah During India’s Semi-Final Win During India’s tense T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England at Wankhede Stadium, former cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar expressed strong disapproval of fan chants directed at Jasprit Bumrah while he was bowling. The Wankhede Stadium DJ repeatedly urged spectators to chant “Boom Boom Bumrah” during an over, a practice Gavaskar called inappropriate for a World Cup match. “Asking the crowd to chant ‘Boom Boom Bumrah’ while he is bowling is not a good idea,” Gavaskar said from the commentary box. “They can do it between overs, but not during the over. This is a World Cup.” Gavaskar’s criticism followed a broader pattern of dissent against entertainment additions to the tournament. Earlier in the competition, he and Ravi Shastri had criticized the ICC for staging a laser show during the drinks break of India’s Super 8 match against the West Indies at Eden Gardens. Despite his reservations about the chants, Gavaskar praised Bumrah’s pivotal role in India’s seven-run victory. The pacer’s composed death bowling, which included a crucial wicket of Harry Brook on his first ball of the final over, helped secure the win. India’s triumph came after a nervy chase of England’s 253/7 target, with Jacob Bethell’s 105-run partnership with Sam Curran nearly salvaging a draw. Bumrah’s final over, in which he conceded just six runs, proved decisive. Gavaskar hailed Bumrah as a “once-in-a-century” bowler, emphasizing his versatility across all formats. “Jasprit Bumrah is not just a once-in-a-generation bowler. He is a once-in-a-century kind of a bowler. Because he plays all formats—Test matches, 50-over games, T20s,” Gavaskar said. “You give him the ball, he will deliver.#icc #t20_world_cup_2026 #wankhede_stadium #sunil_gavaskar #jasprit_bumrah
Sunil Gavaskar Goes Hard At T20 World Cup Organisers For Refusing To Learn From Earlier Mistake Sunil Gavaskar expressed frustration again with the organizers of the T20 World Cup for what he called an unprofessional decision to use a DJ during the India vs England semi-final. The former India captain criticized the practice of having a DJ shout “BOOM-BOOM Bumrah” in the middle of an over, which he believed disrupted the flow of the game. The incident occurred during the 16th over of the match at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, when Jasprit Bumrah was in the process of bowling. Gavaskar argued that such interruptions were unnecessary during live play and questioned the organizers’ judgment, especially in a high-stakes World Cup event. Gavaskar’s criticism followed a similar complaint he made earlier about a laser show during the India vs West Indies Super 8 match. He had previously raised concerns that the bright lights during the drinks break could strain players’ eyesight. The laser display, which lasted three minutes, was shown when India was at 53/2 in the Powerplay phase at Eden Gardens. Gavaskar emphasized that such distractions were inappropriate for a World Cup match, noting that while similar effects were acceptable in the Indian Premier League, they were not suitable for knockout stages. He questioned the need for such entertainment during critical moments of the game. The former captain’s comments reflect his traditional approach to cricket, where he values simplicity and adherence to the sport’s fundamentals. He has consistently criticized deviations from standard practices, such as failing to convert singles into doubles or improper running between wickets.#t20_world_cup #wankhede_stadium #sunil_gavaskar #jasprit_bumrah #india_english_super_8
"This Is A World Cup": Sunil Gavaskar Fumes At Stadium Organiser For 'Jasprit Bumrah Chants' Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar expressed frustration with stadium organizers for encouraging spectators to chant Jasprit Bumrah's name during a crucial moment in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup semifinal between India and England. The incident occurred at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where the DJ prompted fans to shout “Boom Boom Bumrah” as the Indian pacer prepared to bowl. Gavaskar, commentating on the match, criticized the decision, emphasizing that such chants during the delivery stride are inappropriate, especially in a high-stakes World Cup environment. He noted that while fans can cheer between overs, chanting during the over could distract the bowler and undermine the professionalism expected at the global tournament. The match, which saw India defend a target of 254 against England, showcased a blend of individual brilliance and team resilience. Sanju Samson’s 89 off 42 balls and Jasprit Bumrah’s economical spell of 1/33 in four overs were pivotal in securing India’s seven-run victory. Samson’s innings, marked by a second consecutive fifty, propelled India to a record-breaking total of 253 for seven, the highest in a knockout game of the tournament. England’s response, led by Jacob Bethell’s century (105 off 48), saw them chase down the target with a thrilling chase, though they fell short by seven runs. Gavaskar and former India coach Ravi Shastri had previously criticized the ICC for organizing a laser show during a tense Super 8 match between India and the West Indies at Eden Gardens. The incident highlighted concerns about distractions during critical moments of the tournament.#icc_men_s_t20_world_cup #sunil_gavaskar #jasprit_bumrah #wankhede_stadium #ravi_shastri
