Cricket News

‘You don’t take rest during Indian T20 League but rest while playing for India’ – Sunil Gavaskar lashes out at at senior players

Former India skipper turned commentator Sunil Gavaskar has asked the burning question as to why senior Indian players rest for international games but not for the Indian T20 League. A number of Indian players including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, have been rested in some of the recent series’, casting doubt on the BCCI’s choice-making process.

Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been having a dry run of form and the BCCI selectors on the lines of “Workload Management” have been giving them breaks in various series at regular intervals so that their workload can be managed. The BCCI announced the India squad for the West Indies ODI series, and yet again, Sharma and Kohli have been rested alongside Rishabh Pant, Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Shikhar Dhawan will be in charge of the team.

Gavaskar came down hard at the cricketers for taking breaks during the game’s shortest format because, according to him, an innings of 20 overs is not physically burdening.

“See I do not agree with players resting (during India matches). Not at all. You are playing for India. You don’t take rest during IPL but rest while playing for India. I don’t agree with it. You will have to play for India. Don’t talk about rest. There are only 20 overs in an innings in T20. That does not take any toll on your body. In Test matches, the mind and the body take a toll, but in T20 cricket, there is not much of a problem (in playing),” Gavaskar said on Sports Tak.

The former cricketer talked about drawing a line to take a step towards a more professional environment. He said that the contract system needs to be looked into and that cricketers who want to take breaks frequently have their contracts slashed to a lower grade.

“I honestly feel that the BCCI needs to look into this concept of rest. All the Grade A cricketers have received very good contracts. They receive payment for every match. Tell me if there is any company whose CEO, or MDs get so much time off? I feel that if Indian cricket is to become more professional, a line needs to be drawn. If you want to be rested, you need to reduce your guarantees. Then you take rest because you don’t want to play. But how can anyone say that I don’t want to play for the Indian team? Which is why I do not agree with the concept,” Gavaskar added.