Gavaskar urges international players to turn up for Ranji Trophy matches
Former India opener Sunil Gavaskar urged international cricketers to make themselves available for Ranji Trophy matches, saying the absence of many top players hinders assessment of emerging talent, during a virtual interaction on Saturday.
Gavaskar said the strength of the Indian cricket team depends on a strong domestic structure, arguing that the national side is only "a by-product of Indian cricket." He stressed that while the contracted 14-15 players picked for Tests and ODIs need not be forced to play during Ranji season, "all the others should be available." The comments came as Gavaskar, a former cricketer and commentator, voiced concern about the workload faced by India’s playing staff.
He criticised parts of the international schedule for limiting preparation time, suggesting the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in January "could have been avoided" to allow rest and better readiness for the five-Test series against Australia starting later that month. Gavaskar framed this in the context of protecting players' ability to prepare for high-stakes Test cricket.
On selection policy, Gavaskar said heavy use of Test caps to rest senior players has been a problem, warning against handing out appearances for the wrong reasons. "I know the Indian team has got plenty of talent, and we can say that we’ll give the seniors a rest and have the others playing. But that is not what you want. You do not want to give away Test caps because you want to rest a senior. If there is an injury, that’s another matter. But in the last season and maybe the previous season, too many caps have been given. As a former cricketer, I just find that a little bit hard to accept," he said.
Gavaskar defended the traditional structure of Test series, saying "a minimum of three Tests" in a series is "what is needed for Test cricket." He also weighed in on India’s middle-order debate, expressing the expectation that in-form Devdutt Padikkal would keep the No. 3 spot ahead of Sai Sudharsan.
Addressing technical preparation for foreign conditions, Gavaskar advised India’s Test batsmen on tackling seam movement in New Zealand, recommending they play late and avoid aggressive pushing. "The later you play, the better your chances of scoring runs as well as defending a good ball. Don’t push at the ball. Play with soft hands when you are defending," he said.
India’s forthcoming tour of New Zealand was noted in coverage details, with the series available on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV starting October 22.