Gavaskar’s strong message to BCCI on players' workload, calls for mandatory rest period: 'Please spare our elite players'

Former India captain and 1983 World Cup-winning batter Sunil Gavaskar has made a strong appeal to the BCCI just days after India’s 3-0 ODI series win over Afghanistan. Gavaskar has requested the board to introduce a mandatory one-month rest period for centrally contracted players to help manage workload and avoid players missing tours and series.

Gavaskar said that while the BCCI has played an important role in supporting smaller cricketing nations like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, and Ireland through regular bilateral series, players' workload and health must also get equal attention.

In his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar said the constant scheduling and lack of breaks risk affecting players physically and mentally. He also raised concerns about frequent rotation policies, arguing that they may cheapen the value of earning an India cap.

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“Yes, BCCI is like the elder brother to countries like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka, and have always tried to help them grow on the field and boost their finances by touring these countries. However, our cricketers’ health and fitness are also crucial and there should be a clear month’s rest for our players in the year. India is blessed with talent and so you can rotate the players but that is cheapening the India cap. The cap mustn’t be given because a player replaces the undroppable player who is rested. It has to be earned,” Gavaskar wrote in his column.

Gavaskar says resting because of workload should be avoided

Gavaskar also suggested that while India ‘A’ and Under-19 fixtures are important for developing future talent, elite players should not be overused. He called for structured rest periods to ensure physical recovery instead of resting players in the name of workload every now and then.

“In the Test against Afghanistan who have been honest triers but nothing more, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul scored centuries, and Manav Suthar made an impressive debut. Jasprit Bumrah was rested but wouldn’t he have liked to have added a fifer or a tenfer to his career record against this team. When India is playing, then the best team must play, unless there are injuries of course. But this resting because of workload must be avoided as much as possible. Have a look at the calendar and you will see that India is playing every month somewhere or the other,” he added.

“Yes, by all means have ‘A’ team and U-19 matches so that young players get the opportunity and the experience, but please spare our elite players and ensure they as a team and not just as individuals get at least a month’s break in the year,” Gavaskar wrote.

India have just finished a bilateral series against Afghanistan and are now ready to play another one against Ireland. After that, India will travel to England for a white-ball series, consisting of T20Is and ODIs.