Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the “star culture” within the Indian cricket team following their 1-3 series loss to Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Australia clinched the Sydney Test by six wickets, securing their first Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in 10 years.
The five-match series left much to be desired from the Indian side. Apart from Jasprit Bumrah, no player stepped up to help the team out of difficult situations. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, in particular, failed to deliver with the bat, raising questions about their future in the team. Rohit Sharma sat out the Sydney Test, with Bumrah leading the team in his absence. While Kohli scored a century in Perth, he ended the series with fewer than 200 runs, repeatedly dismissed while chasing wide deliveries.
Gavaskar believes the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) must take a stand against the star culture. He emphasized that players should prioritize Indian cricket above all else and be available unless there is a legitimate medical emergency. “The next 8–10 days are crucial for Indian cricket. The star culture must end. Total commitment to Indian cricket is non-negotiable. Players must make themselves available every time unless there’s a genuine medical reason. If someone isn’t fully committed, they shouldn’t be considered for selection,” Gavaskar said.
Without holding back, Gavaskar added that it was time to stop pampering players and urged the BCCI to stop acting as admirers. He called on the board to focus on the future of the sport in the country, rather than indulging players.
India’s defeat in the series against Australia has also meant they have missed out on qualification for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time. The final will be played between Australia and South Africa at Lord’s from June 11-16.
“We don’t need players who are only partly committed. It’s time to stop pampering anyone. The recent results are disappointing—we should have been in the WTC final but didn’t make it,” Gavaskar stated. He urged the cricket board to stop “acting like admirers” and take a firm stand, ensuring that Indian cricket comes first. “It’s either full commitment to Indian cricket or other priorities—you can’t have it both ways,” he added.
