The debate around overseas player availability in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has intensified after cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar called for stronger rules to protect franchises from unexpected player withdrawals.
The former India captain believes that teams invest heavily in players and should not suffer when overseas cricketers leave the tournament midway, especially if they later appear in other competitions despite citing injuries as the reason for their exit.
The issue gained attention during the IPL 2026, a season that witnessed several availability concerns involving foreign players. Writing in his column for a sports magazine, Gavaskar said that while the BCCI has already introduced some measures, more needs to be done to ensure franchises are not left at a disadvantage.
Sunil Gavaskar praised the BCCI’s existing rule that imposes a two-year ban on players who enter the IPL auction, get selected by a franchise and then withdraw at the last moment for reasons other than genuine injuries. However, he argued that similar action should be taken against players who leave the tournament during the season and later participate in domestic or other cricket competitions.
According to Gavaskar, some overseas players fail to honour the commitments they make when entering the auction. He suggested that teams often find themselves in difficult situations because replacements cannot always be arranged quickly after a player departs.
The batting great also hinted that, in some cases, players and their cricket boards may work together to justify early exits from the tournament. As a result, franchises are left waiting for official approvals and have little control over the situation.
Another major concern raised by Gavaskar was the financial burden on the IPL teams. He pointed out that foreign cricket boards receive 10% of a player’s IPL fee, which is paid by the franchise and not deducted from the player’s salary. Since this represents an additional expense for teams, Gavaskar believes stricter accountability is necessary.
He proposed that if a player misses matches after leaving the tournament, then deductions from the player’s earnings should be made accordingly. In his view, the percentage paid to the overseas cricket board should also be reduced in proportion to the matches missed.
Sunil Gavaskar ended with a strong message, urging the BCCI to take a firm stand and avoid compromises. He stressed that franchises should not be punished for circumstances beyond their control and that players who are unwilling to complete the full tournament should face consequences.
The former opener also highlighted the IPL’s global stature, describing it as not only the world’s premier T20 competition but also a tournament that has transformed the careers and financial futures of countless overseas cricketers. For that reason, he believes full commitment from players is non-negotiable.
Sunil Gavaskar certainly makes sense, agree?
