'You don’t take rest during IPL but rest while playing for India' - Sunil Gavaskar criticizes senior players

Former India skipper and cricket veteran Sunil Gavaskar has questioned why senior Indian players rest for international games but not for the Indian Premier League. A number of Indian athletes, 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.

As Kohli and Rohit are having trouble with their batting and have been going through a rough patch in their career, the selectors tried to lighten their load by giving them breaks during various series. 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 as Shikhar Dhawan will be in charge of the team.

Gavaskar, on the other hand, lambasted the cricketers for taking breaks during the game’s shortest format because, in his opinion, 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.

If Indian cricket is to become more professional, a line needs to be drawn: Gavaskar

The renowned Indian cricketer added that the BCCI should improve its plan for resting players, pointing out that those who are placed in the Grade A category make substantial earnings. Gavaskar wants the BCCI to operate more professionally, and he suggested 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.