Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) and cricket administrators to rethink India’s increasingly packed cricket calendar, warning that the unending schedule could place excessive pressure on players.
Gavaskar’s comments come amid growing concerns over the workload faced by Indian cricketers, who regularly move between international assignments, franchise tournaments and domestic competitions. The former opener believes players need adequate opportunities to rest and recover rather than being expected to play continuously throughout the year.
Using a striking analogy, Gavaskar said that “Indian cricketers are neither machines nor sugarcane”, emphasising that players have physical and mental limits. While modern cricket demands greater fitness and professionalism, he argued that this should not come at the cost of player wellbeing.
India’s cricket calendar has become increasingly demanding with Test matches, One-Day Internationals and T20Is taking place alongside domestic competitions and franchise leagues. Players can also face extensive travel between countries, adding to the physical and mental burden.
According to Gavaskar, workload management should be treated as an important part of cricket administration. A carefully structured calendar could allow players to perform at their best while reducing the risk of injuries and burnout.
The former India captain also stressed the importance of domestic cricket. India’s domestic tournaments provide the foundation for developing the next generation of cricketers and offer established players an opportunity to maintain their form and match fitness.
However, when the international and franchise calendars become overcrowded, domestic cricket can struggle to receive adequate attention from leading players. Gavaskar’s comments therefore underline the need to strike a better balance between international commitments, franchise cricket and domestic competitions.
The debate over player workload has become particularly relevant in the modern era, when cricket has expanded dramatically across formats. T20 leagues have created new opportunities for players, but the additional fixtures have also contributed to increasingly congested schedules.
For India, managing this balance is particularly important because of the country’s central role in world cricket. Indian players are among the most sought-after cricketers in international and franchise competitions, making their availability a major factor in scheduling decisions.
Gavaskar’s call for reform puts the focus on whether cricket’s governing bodies can create a calendar that protects players while maintaining the sport’s commercial momentum.
The message from the former India skipper is clear: players cannot be expected to keep performing indefinitely without sufficient rest. A more balanced schedule, he believes, would benefit not only India’s cricketers but the quality and sustainability of the game itself