I don't think I would call him the greatest: Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar on Shane Warne

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has said that in his opinion Australian spinner Shane Warne cannot be called the greatest among the spin bowlers that world cricket has produced.

Speaking to the news channel India Today, Gavaskar said, “For me, the Indian spinners and Muttiah Muralitharan were certainly better than Warne. Because look at Warne's record against India. It was pretty ordinary against India.”

He added, "Because he didn't have much success against Indian players, who are very good players of spin bowling, I don't think I would call him the greatest. I think Muttiah Muralitharan with the success that he had against India would rank over him in my book."

Gavaskar also questioned Warne’s lifestyle which could have triggered a possible heart attack, the only known reason for his death.

"He was always looking to live life fully, king-size as they call it and he did that and maybe because he lived life in such a manner is perhaps the reason why his heart couldn't take it and he passed away so soon," Gavaskar said.

However, he expressed shock over Warne’s and Marsh’s death calling them giants of the world cricket.

Gavaskar said, “Within the space of 24 hours, the cricket world has lost two giants of the game, not just Australian cricket but the cricket world. Rodney Marsh and then Shane Warne. This is unbelievable. Hard to come to grips with.”