Sunil Gavaskar Slams BCCI for Tailoring Uncapped Player Retention Rule to Benefit MS Dhoni
Cricket team of India incurs an adjustment... Financial cap increased to 40 million rupees due to MS Dhoni's inclusion.
Batting great Sunil Gavaskar has spoken out against the steep financial compensation given to uncapped players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The evolution of T20 cricket and the emergence of the IPL have provided a massive platform for young talents to exhibit their skills and grab the attention of the cricket world. The tournament's recognition has also resulted in an increase in the auction purse for the franchises, as numerous players, from fledgling to seasoned pros, have struck it rich by participating in the IPL.
However, Gavaskar has voiced his disapproval over the extravagant fees allocated to uncapped players. He also expressed his discontent toward the BCCI tinkering with the uncapped player retention rule prior to the current season, with the aim of enabling MS Dhoni to be retained for INR 4 crore.
In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar wrote, "To accommodate Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who became an uncapped player before the auction last year, the limit was raised to ₹4 crore."
The rule alteration introduced by the BCCI during the retention process places an Indian player who has not played international cricket for five years prior to the pertinent season under the umbrella of "uncapped player." Initially implemented for the inaugural season in 2008, the rule was dismissed in 2021, only to resurface again, granting legends such as Dhoni the opportunity to get retained for INR 4 crore by CSK. Gavaskar advocates for revisions in the rule and a reduction in the fee for uncapped player retention.
The 2021 IPL season witnessed Rasikh Dar breaking the record as the most expensive uncapped player, with RCB splurging INR 6 crore on the right-arm pacer. However, the player has only managed to appear in two matches during the current season.
Gavaskar opines that the hefty price tag comes with immense expectations, leading many young players to succumb to the pressure and underperform. On the contrary, when a player's price drops in the following auction, their performance usually improves.
- IPL
- MS Dhoni
- Sunil Gavaskar
- BCCI
Interestingly, Gavaskar's complaints revolve around two main issues:
- Policy manipulation: He suggests the BCCI modified the clause with the express intention of enabling Dhoni's retention, as he stated, "To accommodate MS Dhoni..."
- Performance inconsistencies: Gavaskar raises concerns regarding the justification for high salaries for uncapped players, noting that the majority of these players are unable to live up to their initial value and only thrive once their auction value plummets in future seasons. He also highlights that opportunities for significant growth among uncapped players in local leagues might be limited, rendering inflated IPL salaries imprudent.
Gavaskar's critique sheds light on the broader issue of IPL's retention policies and their influence on player development.
- Sunil Gavaskar, a batting great, has criticized the BCCI for manipulating the uncapped player retention rule to beneficially retain MS Dhoni for INR 4 crore.
- The BCCI changed the rule for the retention process during the current season, categorizing an Indian player who hasn't played international cricket for five years as an uncapped player.
- Gavaskar argues that the hefty salaries for uncapped players lead to pressure and underperformance, citing Rasikh Dar as an example, who was bought by RCB for INR 6 crore but has only played two matches in the current season.
- Gavaskar suggests that the BCCI should revise the rule and reduce the fee for uncapped player retention.
- The IPL, BCCI, and MS Dhoni are at the heart of Gavaskar's criticism, with a focus on the policy manipulation and performance inconsistencies associated with the hiring of uncapped players.
