Crores of rupees paid for IPL but lack of commitment? Gavaskar’s brutal attack on overseas stars
New Delhi: Legend Sunil Gavaskar Sparking fresh debate in IPL 2026, urging Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to crack down on players who fail to perform their assigned duties adequately – KKR are all-rounders Cameron Green Not bowling anymore due to workload issues became a topic.In his column in Sportstar, Gavaskar questioned the growing trend of all-rounders playing purely as batsmen despite being selected for their dual skills. “A bowler can only bowl four overs in a match…what stops them from doing that in a match?” he wrote, in a scathing critique of the workload management narrative.“If it doesn’t fit, don’t play”Gavaskar made it clear that players who are not in good shape should leave the field before the game begins. “It’s only fair that players who aren’t fit from day one should withdraw to give the team the chance to choose someone else,” he said.The former India captain refuted claims that the franchise was informed in advance. “Suggesting that the franchise was ‘informed beforehand’ is not a very good excuse,” he added, questioning the timing and transparency of such disclosures. After Ajinkya Rahane took a jibe at Cameron Green for not bowling, Cricket Australia issued a clarifying statement saying the franchise was informed of the situation beforehand.His comments come at a time when teams like Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad are facing criticism, which have been struggling with their bowling combinations, partly due to the unavailability of key players in the bowling matches.“It’s time for BCCI to step in”Similar to the existing rules, Gavaskar suggested a stricter intervention by the BCCI. “Perhaps the BCCI needs to step in…to introduce similar measures for players who were unable to join in the first game,” he wrote, referring to the two-year ban imposed on overseas players who quit after buying in the auction.He emphasized that teams that invest heavily in players deserve their full investment. “Don’t the franchise… deserve a full commitment?” he asked, emphasizing the financial and emotional investment the team has made.
Other cricket boards extract money from IPL, NOC
Gavaskar further revealed that the Indian Premier League is not only lucrative for overseas players but has also become an important source of revenue for the respective cricket boards. A little-known aspect is that the board receives around 10% of a player’s auction fee as part of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) process.The profit scale is very impressive. According to Gavaskar, 16 Australian players have been signed for a total of Rs 121.65 crore in recent seasons, while 12 English players have been signed for Rs 68 crore. New Zealand’s 12 players earn over Rs 33 crore, South Africa’s 17 players earn around Rs 71 crore and West Indies’ eight players earn close to Rs 59 crore. These numbers translate into impressive returns for their respective boards.What makes this arrangement stand out is its uniqueness. No other T20 league globally shares player auction revenue with the Cricket Board in this way.
