Sunil Gavaskar demands harsh punishment after Australian players harassed during Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

Sunil Gavaskar is not a reserved person and his vehement response to the harassment episode in Indore once again confirms the same. He labeled the act as “heinous” and declared that the offenders should be “locked up and the keys thrown away.” His words resonated with the cricketing fraternity and was a symbol of embarrassment as a nation and a wakeup call to us that being a sportsman goes beyond the field.

Sunil Gavaskar reacts sharply to harassment case involving Australian cricketers in Indore

Sunil Gavaskar, the former captain of India and a well-respected figure in cricket known for his frank views, reacted promptly to the news, describing the harassment as a “horrific incident” that clashes with India’s cultural value of hospitality.

During an interview with India Today on October 25, 2025, the 76-year-old called for strict punishment for the wrongdoer, mentioning, “It is, without question, a heinous incident. The law will take its course, but I do hope that the guilty person is punished severely – you lock them up and throw away the key. That’s the only way, I think. Just lock him up and throw the keys away.”

BCCI vice-president @ShuklaRajiv and batting legend Sunil Gavaskar condemned the heinous incident towards the Australian women’s cricketers in Indore, citing that such behaviour runs contrary to India's cultural ethos and values.https://t.co/mVIAgSXIY8

— Circle of Cricket (@circleofcricket) October 26, 2025

Gavaskar further emphasized the cultural betrayal, adding, “Yes, I think because we are famous for Atithi Devo Bhava [guest is god], to hear of this is very, very sad.” His comments, made during a talk about the wider effects of the event, emphasized the need for justice to rebuild trust in India’s image as a welcoming host country.

BCCI responds firmly to Indore harassment incident during Women’s ODI World Cup 2025

The situation prompted swift and united disapproval from important stakeholders. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) put out an official statement on October 25, 2025, via its honorary secretary, Devajit Saikia, calling the occurrence a “very condemnable but stray incident.”

Saikia, speaking to media outlets including ANI, praised the Madhya Pradesh police for their “prompt action to nab the culprit” and affirmed the board’s zero-tolerance stance, “India is known for its hospitality and care. We have zero tolerance for such incidents… Let the law take its course to punish the culprit. We assure to revisit our safety protocols if required to further tighten the security.”

#CrickIt | Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was left fuming upon hearing that two Australia women's cricketers were harassed in Indore.

Know what happened 🔗 https://t.co/Lg4A0NrCSX pic.twitter.com/zP2hNvn7t2

— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) October 26, 2025

On the same day, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla expressed this view in a separate statement to ANI, referring to the situation, “very unfortunate” and stressing preventive measures, “The entire incident is very unfortunate, and we condemn it. We will take all the required precautions. The Police have nabbed the accused.”.

The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), responsible for the Indore matches, expressed their great shock in a statement,“MPCA is deeply pained and shocked by the disturbing incident of misconduct and inappropriate behaviour with two players from the Australian Women’s Cricket Team in Indore. No woman should ever have to endure such trauma, and our thoughts and support are with those impacted by this distressing incident.”.

Cricket Australia’s initial response, issued on October 25, 2025, confirmed the details and thanked local support, “The matter was reported by team security to police, who are handling the matter.” The organization appreciated the swift arrest and ongoing support from Indian counterparts.

Australia finish league stage with six wins from seven matches to lead the standings

Despite the chaos off the field, the Australian team proved their resilience. On October 25, 2025, at Holkar Stadium, they went up against South Africa in their final league match and won by seven wickets, finishing first on the points table with six wins from seven matches (one no-result).

Leg-spinner Alana King shone with her career-best performance, taking 7/18 in seven overs, including two maidens, which led to South Africa being bowled out for just 97 runs in 24 overs and their lowest ODI total against Australia. This was the first time a seven-wicket haul was recorded in a Women’s World Cup and marked Australia’s best in women’s ODIs.

Australia successfully chased down the target in just 24 overs, thanks to Beth Mooney’s 42 runs and Georgia Voll’s not-out 38, while Annabel Sutherland contributed a quick 10 off four balls. This victory secured their semifinal clash with India, the fourth-placed hosts, on October 30, 2025, at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai echoing the 2017 World Cup semifinals where India triumphed over Australia.

In the meantime, South Africa is set to take on England in the first semifinal on October 29, 2025, in Guwahati.

India moved forward after a 53-run victory (DLS method) against New Zealand on October 23, 2025, in Navi Mumbai, but there are still worries about batter Pratika Rawal possibly missing out due to injury.

Rain is still a concern, and reserve days have been set for the knockout matches; if a match gets rained out, the team that finished higher in the league (Australia) will move on.

As the tournament continues, the Indore incident highlights the urgent need for improved security, allowing the spotlight to stay on the players’ performances rather than their safety concerns. Gavaskar’s passionate request for accountability reflects a common call for change.