“Do we need these laser shows in the middle of the drinks break?” - Sunil Gavaskar & Ravi Shastri disappointed with laser show at Eden Gardens

Former Indian cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri were disappointed with the laser show during the drinks break of the virtual quarter-final clash between India and the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, March 1.

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Delving into the details of the incident, when India was on 53/2 by the end of the powerplay in the 196-run chase, the stadium witnessed a laser show being played out during the three-minute drinks break. 

With the laser show being played at a crucial point in time during a do-or-die game, both Gavaskar and Shastri pointed out that it could affect the batters’ eyesight, questioning whether the fans require this kind of entertainment. Gavaskar went on to add that he would be fine with such an entertainment in the IPL, but not in the World Cup.

“The laser show during the two-and-a-half or three minutes of the drinks break… it’s not easy on the batters, or anybody for that matter. To get your eyes used to the light, to get the bright lights again, you have darkness around you,” Gavaskar said in the commentary for the game.

“You have a laser thing going on. This is the World Cup. And for two and a half minutes, do you need this kind of entertainment? In the IPL, it’s fine in the middle of the IPL. Not in the knockouts, but in the middle of the IPL, that is fine. But at the moment here, in the World Cup, do we need these laser shows in the middle of the drinks break, at the drinks interval?” Gavaskar questioned.

“And from the players’ point of view, to switch back on, is never easy. It’s serious stuff,” Ravi Shastri said.

Delving into the details of the match, the West Indies posted a whopping total of 195/4 in 20 overs, thanks to Roston Chase's 40, Rovman Powell's 34*, and Jason Holder's 37*. In the chase, India finished off the game in 19.2 overs with five wickets in hand. Sanju Samson was the wrecker-in-chief with a 97-run unbeaten knock.

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