Last Updated:
Sunil Gavaskar has raised the issue of increasing salary cap for uncapped players in IPL which he feels may end up having a negative impact on Indian cricket.
Sunil Gavaskar (left) and MS Dhoni (PTI)
Sunil Gavaskar feels that the high salaries that are often offered to uncapped players in the IPL ends up leaving a negative impact on their performances because of the undue pressure to justify the hefty price tag. Additionally, having earned life-changing money, Gavaskar reckons, can also discourage them from further realising their potential.
The batting legend says this will ultimately impact the future of Indian cricket and to address that, he advises the BCCI to reduce the salary cap for retaining uncapped players.
“To accommodate Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who became an uncapped player before the auction last year, the limit was raised to Rs 4 crore,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. “Maybe it is time to relook at that and reduce it further so that Indian cricket does not lose out on talent that seems to flounder its way with the pressure when auctioned for crores.”
Gavaksar says that a player failing to justify his salary and eventually fading into oblivion might not impact a franchise but it’s a loss for Indian cricket in general.
“A whole lot of the players bought for huge amounts simply fade away as their hunger and drive are satiated. To the franchises, it perhaps doesn’t matter as they may feel it’s good riddance, but Indian cricket takes a bit of a beating at the loss of any player whether he has been successful or not,” he wrote.
Gavaskar says players becoming rich after being signed for astronomical amounts may get overwhelmed by the fortune and rubbing shoulders with international stars.
“Most of the guys who suddenly become crorepatis are overwhelmed, firstly by their sudden good fortune and then by the nervousness of getting to rub shoulders with those they have admired and perhaps never even dreamt of meeting. They are often not even part of their state’s squad of top 30 players. So now, to get into a group where there are great players in the game from different countries with different styles, approaches, and even different accents is never easy,” he wrote.
- First Published:
