Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has launched a stinging critique on a growing IPL trend, questioning the commitment of some highly-paid stars and calling for the BCCI to take a firmer stand. At the heart of his argument is a simple question for franchises shelling out crores: are you getting the complete player you paid for?

In his column, Gavaskar took specific aim at the phenomenon of all-rounders being picked for their dual skills but featuring only as batters, citing "workload management" as a questionable excuse. Using Kolkata Knight Riders' Cameron Green as a recent example, Gavaskar pointedly asked, "A bowler can bowl only four overs in a match… what is stopping them from doing so in the game?"

His solution is straightforward: if a player isn't fit to perform their full role from the very first match, they should withdraw before the tournament. "It is only fair that a player not fit from day one should withdraw and give the franchise the chance to pick someone else," he stated, dismissing the notion that prior notification to the team is a sufficient excuse.

Gavaskar's comments strike at a core tension in the modern IPL—the balance between player management by national boards and the expectations of franchises making massive investments. He revealed that foreign boards earn significant revenue from No Objection Certificates for the IPL, a unique financial arrangement in global cricket that he implies should come with greater accountability.

Drawing a parallel to existing rules that ban overseas players for two years if they pull out after the auction, Gavaskar suggested the BCCI needs similar intervention for players unavailable from the start. "Don't the franchises… deserve full commitment?" he asked, highlighting that the league's credibility and competitive balance depend on stars delivering on their promised roles.