Cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take a serious look at the packed cricket calendar. He believes Indian cricketers cannot be expected to keep playing without enough rest.

Gavaskar also believes that the busy international schedule is affecting domestic cricket, which could eventually hurt India’s supply of quality players. The former India captain compared cricketers to sugarcane and said they cannot be endlessly squeezed for every last drop.

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BCCI Plans Changes To Prepare Players For Overseas Tours

The BCCI recently held a meeting to review Indian cricket and decided to make changes to the Future Tours Programme (FTP).

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The board wants to give players better preparation ahead of major overseas assignments in South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the focus will be on providing players with enough rest, time to adjust to conditions and practice matches before important series.

The decision comes at a time when player workload and injuries have become major concerns. The BCCI is also expected to raise the issue during the upcoming ICC meeting later this month.

Gavaskar Questions India’s Bench Strength

India’s strong bench strength has often been discussed, with claims that the country can field multiple teams at the same time.

However, Gavaskar believes the recent results show that the situation is not as simple as it sounds. He feels India still needs to strengthen its main team and cannot afford to ignore domestic cricket.

Domestic Cricket Remains A Major Concern

Gavaskar believes domestic cricket needs greater importance as India looks to build its next generation of players.

With the international calendar becoming increasingly crowded, young players need enough opportunities to develop through domestic cricket. According to Gavaskar, neglecting that system could eventually affect India’s ability to produce players capable of performing at the highest level.

For him, managing the workload of current players and protecting the domestic cricket structure are both important if India wants to remain competitive in the years ahead.