Cricket professional remuneration scrutinized by Gavaskar, regarding Indian domestic tournaments
Legendary cricket figure, Sunil Gavaskar, has shone a light on the disparity in recognition between performers in domestic tournaments and the Indian Premier League (IPL). He highlighted this issue in his column for Sportstar, asserting that the consistent performers in championships such as the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy fade into obscurity compared to IPL players.[1]
In his argument, Gavaskar showcased the cases of Harsh Dubey and Yash Rathod and their overlooked achievements during Vidarbha's triumphant Ranji Trophy season. On the flip side, IPL 2025 showcased up-and-coming talents such as Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Digvesh Singh Rathi, and Ashutosh Sharma, who captivated the nation's cricket enthusiasts.[1]
Gavaskar had additional thoughts on his argument, stating that despite Kerala's remarkable achievement of reaching the maiden Ranji Trophy final, their efforts went unnoticed, particularly without star player, Sanju Samson. He went on to express his feelings about the situation by writing, "...one performance in the whole season gets headlines, which are more often than not, way over the top. There are many instances of these one-match performers being out of the game in a season or two, but one season of IPL often gives them much more than a whole career in the Ranji Trophy."[1]
The Workings Behind the Scenes: Which Profession Pays Months After the Job?
Gavaskar also voiced his concern about state associations not adequately compensating players for their contributions during the grueling domestic season. He urged these associations to pay their cricketers in a timely manner, providing incentives for their performances throughout the long season.[2]
While an IPL uncapped player's lowest base price is ₹30 lakh, cricketers don't make anywhere near that amount following the end of domestic season tournaments like Ranji and Vijay Hazare. A more equitable arrangement, suggested Gavaskar, would be for associations like Mumbai to match the BCCI's payments to Ranji players.[2]
However, most associations fail to act upon the BCCI's subsidy, choosing instead to store the funds rather than using them for the development of the game within their jurisdiction. As a result, Gavaskar believes these associations should also pay their players an equivalent amount for their contributions during the season, as there isn't any profession where one gets paid long after the job is done.[2]
It's Time to Level the Playing Field
In Gavaskar's view, the domestic cricket's lack of recognition leaves an unpleasant aftertaste, considering cricketers play approximately three times more games than in the IPL. His argument lies in the fact that while the IPL boasts a massive appeal, uneven distribution of recognition and financial compensation between the two leagues is disheartening for domestic players.[3]
While the reasons behind this discrepancy are numerous, ranging from differences in exposure, format, and commercial appeal, the problem remains: constant performers in domestic cricket often go unnoticed while one stellar IPL performance generates a whirlwind of coverage.[1]
Overall, Sunil Gavaskar's criticism highlights the need for a greater level of recognition and financial compensation for performers in domestic cricket. Contrastingly, the India Premier League’s global reach, entertainment value, commercial backing, and celebrity factor result in a significantly bigger spotlight compared to traditional domestic tournaments like Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy.[1]
- Sunil Gavaskar
- Ranji Trophy
- Ipl
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- Legendary cricket figure, Sunil Gavaskar, is advocating for a more balanced spotlight in cricket, as he finds it disappointing that performers in domestic tournaments receive less recognition compared to those in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
- Gavaskar points out that cricketers playing in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy often receive significantly less financial compensation than their IPL counterparts.
- With achievers in the IPL capturing the nation's attention, Gavaskar is particularly concerned about the lack of acknowledgment for domestic players like Harsh Dubey, Yash Rathod, and Kerala's team, which failed to garner recognition despite reaching milestones such as the Ranji Trophy final.
- In urging an equal distribution of recognition and income for both IPL and domestic cricket, Gavaskar suggests that associations like Mumbai should match the payments given to Ranji players by the BCCI, and argues that there is no profession where one gets paid long after the job is done, similar to the situation faced by domestic cricketers.
