New Delhi: Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has reignited discussions regarding the availability of overseas players in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season, expressing dissatisfaction with the current situation. Several international players have yet to join their respective teams due to various reasons.
Delhi Capitals’ Mitchell Starc is currently recovering from an injury, with Cricket Australia managing his workload in anticipation of a demanding international schedule beginning in August 2026. Meanwhile, Australian players Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have joined their teams but have not fully recovered, and neither has participated in IPL 2026.
Compounding frustrations for the franchises, Sri Lanka Cricket has withheld No Objection Certificates (NoCs) for players like Wanindu Hasaranga, Eshaan Malinga, and Matheesha Pathirana, citing unmet fitness tests. Malinga has gone so far as to initiate legal proceedings against the Sri Lankan cricket board, while Hasaranga and Pathirana are presently injured.
A significant point of contention involves Cameron Green, who has been instructed by Cricket Australia to participate solely as a batter in IPL 2026. The Kolkata Knight Riders secured Green for a remarkable Rs 25.2 crore, with the player expressing his intention to play as an all-rounder. The issue escalated following KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane’s critique of Cricket Australia after Kolkata’s loss to the Mumbai Indians in their opening match, during which Rahane mentioned that the franchise had been informed of this restriction beforehand.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar expressed concerns about the implications of such decisions. He stated, “To suggest that the franchise was ‘informed before’ is not a great excuse. Playing for the country is paramount, but don’t the franchises, who invest heavily in players and their families, deserve full commitment?”
Gavaskar further reasoned, “It is also worth remembering that a bowler can bowl only four overs in a match. If they have bowled a similar number of deliveries in practice without issue, what is stopping them from doing so in the game? If a player’s body is that fragile, then perhaps it’s best to take an extended rest.”
He went on to highlight the financial aspect, noting that foreign cricket boards receive 10% of player salaries from the IPL, a practice not observed in other T20 leagues globally. “The IPL has been a cash cow not just for overseas players but for their boards too,” Gavaskar stated. “Does the average Indian fan know that cricket boards get 10% of the fee a player from their country is bought for? No other T20 league in the world pays a single dime to the boards of overseas players.”
Gavaskar concluded by questioning why Indian owners of global leagues do not capitalize on the financial benefits available through the IPL.
