Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar has sharply criticised overseas players for their availability in the Indian Premier League (IPL), questioning both their commitment and the validity of their fitness excuses. He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to step in and enforce stricter rules for players who do not fully commit to their roles.
Writing in Sportstar, Gavaskar brushed aside the usual “informed before” excuse, emphasising that four overs per match are hardly demanding.
“Claiming that the franchise was ‘informed beforehand’ isn’t a valid excuse. How far in advance was that exactly, before the tournament even began? Representing one’s country is always the priority, but franchises, which invest not just money but also trust and support for players and their families, deserve complete commitment in return.”
He emphasised that a bowler is allowed only four overs per game, and if they can handle similar workloads in practice, there is no reason they cannot complete their quota in a match. Over a season of 14 league matches, a bowler is expected to deliver 56 overs, and if the team progresses to the final, they may bowl in additional two or three games, totalling roughly 12 more overs.
“Come on, for a generation that constantly talks up their fitness, that’s hardly a workload. Four overs in a match, and not even in a single stretch, is not tough. If their bodies are really that fragile, maybe they should take another two months off,” he wrote.
Gavaskar’s remarks come as Kolkata Knight Riders struggle with a depleted bowling lineup, with Australia’s Cameron Green still recovering from injury. Cricket Australia had informed KKR about Green’s issue but Gavaskar clearly found the situation unacceptable.
It’s not only KKR that has been impacted. Sunrisers Hyderabad are also struggling, with captain Pat Cummins unavailable for at least the first half of the season. Both franchises’ bowling units have suffered, leaving them in the lower half of the points table.
Gavaskar further highlighted that foreign boards profit financially from IPL contracts, and therefore, players owe a greater sense of accountability to the franchises.
“The IPL has been highly profitable not only for overseas players but also for their cricket boards. Most fans may not realize that boards receive 10% of a player’s auction fee. It’s also unclear whether this commission is paid by the BCCI or the franchise when granting the No Objection Certificate.”
Backing his point with data, he noted that 16 Australian players, with a combined value of Rs 121.65 crore, are playing in the 19th edition, followed by South Africa (17 players) at Rs 77 crore, England (12) at Rs 68 crore, West Indies (unspecified number) at Rs 69 crore, and New Zealand (12) at Rs 33 crore.
“No other T20 league globally gives any payment to the boards of overseas players not even The Hundred, which just held its first auction. With four of the six teams owned by the Indians, why not take advantage of this cash cow?”
