Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has urged the concerned authorities of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make helmet mandatory for batsmen during competitive matches. Widely regarded as one of the greatest cricketers to play the gentlemen’s game, the Master Blaster believes that the act of helmet-wearing should be compulsory for all batsmen irrespective of whether they are facing a spinner or pacer in a professional match.
Tendulkar’s reaction has come after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) batsman Vijay Shankar took a nasty blow on the helmet during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match against KL Rahul-led Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the 13th season of the cash-rich league.
“The game has become faster but is it getting safer? Recently we witnessed an incident which could’ve been nasty,” Tendulkar wrote on Twitter after the incident involving Vijay Shankar.
“Be it a spinner or pacer, wearing a HELMET should be MANDATORY for batsmen at professional levels. Request @icc to take this up on priority,” Tendulkar added. Taking cognisance of Tendulkar’s tweet, Team India head coach Ravi Shastri hailed the plea from the Master Blaster and wrote that Tendulkar is ‘dead right’ about asking ICC to make helmets mandatory at all levels of the sport.
Shastri also poked fun at legendary batsman Sunil Gavaskar while responding to Tendulkar’s tweet about making helmets mandatory in cricket. “You are dead right, @sachin_rt. Wearing of helmets should be mandatory at all levels. PS: I can now play Mr Gavaskar’s full tosses a lot better,” the Team India head coach tweeted.
