India’s relentless schedule has prompted fresh calls for a rethink, with former India Captain Sunil Gavaskar using his Mid-Day column to urge the BCCI to build a month-long break into the calendar for centrally contracted players. His comments came after India completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan, with the one-off Test having started less than a week after the conclusion of IPL 2026.
Gavaskar calls for a dedicated break
The former opener acknowledged India’s role in supporting emerging cricket nations but argued that player welfare should not be compromised by an increasingly crowded calendar. Bilateral tours against teams such as Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka help strengthen those boards financially and competitively, but Gavaskar believes India’s elite players need guaranteed time away from the game.
Writing in his Mid-Day column, Gavaskar said: “Yes, BCCI is like the elder brother to countries like Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka, and have always tried to help them grow on the field and boost their finances by touring these countries. However, our cricketers’ health and fitness are also crucial and there should be a clear month’s rest for our players in the year. India is blessed with talent and so you can rotate the players but that is cheapening the India cap. The cap mustn’t be given because a player replaces the undroppable player who is rested. It has to be earned.”
Concerns over rotation and constant cricket
India’s recent series against Afghanistan followed immediately after the IPL final, while the national side is set to continue its busy schedule with a T20I series in Ireland before white-ball matches against England. Gavaskar questioned whether workload management should become routine when India have matches almost every month of the year.
Referring to the Afghanistan Test, he added: “In the Test against Afghanistan who have been honest triers but nothing more, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul scored centuries, and Manav Suthar made an impressive debut. Jasprit Bumrah was rested but wouldn’t he have liked to have added a fifer or a tenfer to his career record against this team. When India is playing, then the best team must play, unless there are injuries of course. But this resting because of workload must be avoided as much as possible. Have a look at the calendar and you will see that India is playing every month somewhere or the other.”
Heat, scheduling and fan fatigue
Gavaskar also pointed to the conditions under which the Afghanistan series was played. Temperatures in venues such as Chandigarh, Lucknow and Chennai were challenging for players and spectators alike, while the final two ODIs in Lucknow and Chennai were played in front of partially filled stands.
Reports that the BCCI is considering bringing forward the IPL window to begin in early March and conclude by mid-May would, in Gavaskar’s view, help avoid harsher summer conditions and create room for players to recover. He argued that development pathways already exist through India A and Under-19 cricket without requiring constant demands on established internationals.
Gavaskar wrote: “Yes, by all means have ‘A’ team and U-19 matches so that young players get the opportunity and the experience, but please spare our elite players and ensure they as a team and not just as individuals get at least a month’s break in the year.”
A call to protect players and supporters
Gavaskar also suggested that the issue extends beyond player welfare and affects the audience that follows Indian cricket throughout the year. With the current calendar already fixed, he looked ahead to future scheduling changes that could create space for a collective pause.
He continued in his Mid-Day column: “This year’s schedule is already done and nothing can be changed but since the thinking is to have the IPL start and finish early next year is there, then please add a month’s rest to not just the players but the fans of Indian cricket.”
With discussions already underway about adjusting the IPL window, Gavaskar’s latest intervention has added another voice to the debate over balancing commercial commitments, player workload and the long-term value attached to wearing the India cap.
