‘Workload sirf Bharat ke liye khelne ke liye kyun hota hai?’- Sunil Gavaskar questions players taking rest during India’s matches

Team India had a disappointing night in Adelaide, losing to England by a humiliating 10-wicket margin in the 20-20 World Cup semi-final. India was blown away by the English opening pair of Jos Buttler and Alex Hales, who forged a record-unbeaten 170-run stand to help England win with 24 balls to spare.

Following India’s disappointing performance, the team has come under fire from the Indian cricket fraternity. Legendary former captain Sunil Gavaskar criticised the concept of “workload management” in the Indian team. He added that players forget such a concept during the Indian T20 League.

“Changes will be there. Jab aap World Cup me jeet nahi sakte, changes honge. Hamne vo dekha hai ki jo New Zealand ke liye team jaa rahi hai, usme changes hue hain. ye jo ‘workload-workload’ ki baatein chalti hai, Kirti aur Madan ne sahi kaha ki workload sirf Bharat ke liye khelne ke liye kyun hota hai? (When you can’t win World Cup, there will be changes. The team for New Zealand has changes. But everytime we talk about this ‘workload’, why does it only happen when they play for India?),” Gavaskar said on Aaj Tak.

“Aap IPL khelte hain, poora season khelte hain, vahan aap travelling karte hain… sirf pichhla IPL 4 centres me hua tha, baaki sab jagah aap idhar-udhar daudte rehte hain. Vahan par aapko thakaan nahi hoti? Vahan workload nahi hota? Sirf jab Bharat ke liye khana hota hai, vo bhi tab jab aap non-glamorous countries me jaate hain, tab aapka workload banta hai? Ye baat galat hai. (You play in whole season of IPL, travel from one place to other. You don’t get tired there? Is there no workload? Only when you play for India, especially when you have to tour a non-glamorous country, you remember workload? This is wrong),” Gavaskar further said.

Par aapko players ko sandesh bhejna hai: Sunil Gavaskar

The former India batter went on to say that India’s players should not be “pampered,” and that the Indian Cricket Board should send a strong message to the cricketers.

“Workload aur fitness saath me nahi ho sakte. Agar aap fit hai, toh workload ka sawaal kahan aaya? Ham Marathi me kehte hain, ki thoda laad karte hain, vo thoda kam karein. Ham aapko team me le rahe hain, ham aapko kaafi retainer fee bhi de rahe hain. Agar aapko workload ki vajah se aap khel nahi rahe, fir retainer fee bhi nikaalein. (If you’re fit, how does workload come into picture? Stop pampering the players. You’re being picked in team, you’re being paid a retainer fee. If you can’t play because of workload, waive off the retainer fee too),” said Gavaskar.

“Aap match nahi khelenge toh aapki retainer fee nikal jaani chahiye. Bohot saare log fir workload bhoolkar khelne aayenge. IPL shuru hone se pehle international cricket ki body hai, FICA, unhone ye hi kaha tha. Workload, workload, workload… jab IPL aaya, aur saare players IPL khelne ke liye workload bhool gaye. Changes honge, aur hone bhi chahiye. Kaun honge, vo selection committe karegi. Par aapko players ko sandesh bhejna hai. (Don’t play a match, and lose your retainer fee. Many players will then forget workload and come to play. FICA had said the same thing. When IPL came, everyone forgot workload. Selection committee needs to decide on the changes, but you need to send out a strong message),” said the former India captain.