Photo Credit: Instagram Photo of @gavaskarsunilofficial
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has sharply criticised the “star culture” in the Indian cricket team, expressing concerns about its negative impact on the future of Indian cricket.
His comments followed India’s 1-3 loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Australia, led by Pat Cummins, claimed a six-wicket victory in the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, reclaiming the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after ten years.
Speaking to India Today, Gavaskar stressed that players need to demonstrate full commitment to the sport. He urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take strong action and restore accountability within the team.
Gavaskar, clearly disappointed, emphasised the importance of commitment, stating, “I think the next 8–10 days are crucial for Indian cricket to take a good, honest look at itself. Most importantly, the star culture has to end. Total commitment to Indian cricket is non-negotiable. Players must make themselves available every single time unless there’s a genuine medical emergency. If someone isn’t fully committed, they shouldn’t be considered for selection.” This marked India’s first Test series loss to Australia in ten years.
He also pointed to India’s failure to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, a spot taken by South Africa and Australia. “We don’t need players who are partly here and partly elsewhere. It’s time to stop pampering anyone. The recent results have been disappointing—we should have been in the World Test Championship final but didn’t make it,” he said.
Gavaskar’s comments follow concerns over Indian players’ reluctance to play domestic cricket, with growing calls for players to participate in domestic competitions before playing internationally.
During the series, senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggled. Sharma missed the final Test due to poor form, while Kohli’s ongoing issues with deliveries outside the off-stump were a key theme throughout the series, with his only highlight being a century in Perth.
Gavaskar concluded by calling for the BCCI to take decisive action: “The cricket board needs to stop acting like admirers and put their foot down. They must tell the players that Indian cricket comes first. It’s either a full commitment to Indian cricket or other priorities—you can’t have it both ways. If Indian cricket is your priority, only then should you be selected.”
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Stay ahead of the latest cricket industry trends by subscribing to our free cricexec “daily briefing” newsletter.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
