Sunil Gavaskar Slams Half-Hearted IPL Players, Calls for BCCI-Mandated Bans

Sunil Gavaskar has urged the BCCI to introduce strict rules against IPL players who fail to fulfill their roles, citing Cameron Green’s poor start with KKR as a key example.

Sunil Gavaskar has called on the BCCI to introduce stricter rules for IPL players failing to fulfill their signed roles. His comments targeted Cameron Green’s situation at Kolkata Knight Riders.

Cricket Australia restricted Green from bowling during the tournament. The right-hander played three matches for KKR but scored only 24 runs. He did not bowl a single over across those games.

Gavaskar argued that unfit players should withdraw early. That would allow franchises to sign replacements in time.

READ ALSO | Mitchell Starc Set To Miss Three More IPL 2026 Matches For DC | Reports

The former India opener wrote in Sportstar that franchises deserve full commitment from their players. He rejected the excuse of informing teams beforehand about fitness concerns. Gavaskar then pushed for a formal BCCI policy addressing players unavailable from the opening game.

“A bowler can bowl only four overs in a match… what is stopping them from doing so in the game? 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 wrote.

“To suggest that the franchise was ‘informed before’ is not a great excuse. Maybe the BCCI needs to step in and… introduce something similar for players who are not available from the first game. Don’t the franchises… deserve full commitment?” Gavaskar added.

Notably, Green is not alone in this situation. Cricket Australia have also stopped Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants and Cooper Connolly of Punjab Kings from bowling during IPL 2026.