Sunil Gavaskar Criticises Star Culture in Indian Cricket After Series Loss to Australia
Former Indian cricket captain Sunil Gavaskar voiced strong criticism of the “star culture” within the Indian cricket team following their 1-3 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Pat Cummins’ Australia clinched the trophy after a decade, winning the final Test at Sydney by six wickets.
Disappointing Series for Team India
The five-match series left much to be desired from Team India. Jasprit Bumrah stood out with his stellar performance. However, other players, including captain Rohit Sharma and former skipper Virat Kohli, struggled. Kohli, despite a century in Perth, scored fewer than 200 runs in the series. He was often dismissed while chasing wide deliveries. Rohit Sharma missed the Sydney Test, with Bumrah stepping in as captain.
Gavaskar’s Call to End Star Culture
In a scathing assessment, Gavaskar urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take decisive action to eliminate the preferential treatment of star players. He emphasized the importance of full commitment to Indian cricket, suggesting that only those prioritizing the team should be given opportunities.
“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,” Gavaskar said.
Time to Stop Pampering Players
Gavaskar also urged the BCCI to adopt a stricter approach toward player management, suggesting that pampering players and being “admirers” of their star power has contributed to disappointing results.
“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 stated.
India’s failure to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final marks a significant setback. The final will be played between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s from June 11-16.
“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,” Gavaskar concluded.
