NEW DELHI: Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for altering its rules to accommodate MS Dhoni as an “uncapped player” ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In his column in Sportstar, Gavaskar raised alarm over the soaring salaries of uncapped players, cautioning that such moves could damage the future of Indian cricket.
The BCCI revived a rule — scrapped in 2021 — that allows an Indian player who hasn’t played international cricket in five years to be considered “uncapped.” This enabled Chennai Super Kings to retain Dhoni for Rs 4 crore under the uncapped player category.
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“To accommodate Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who became an uncapped player before the auction last year, the limit was raised to Rs 4 crore,” Gavaskar noted, calling the move a disappointing example of convenience over merit.
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He also questioned the value of splurging on untested talent. “A whole lot of the players bought for huge amounts simply fade away as their hunger and drive are satiated… Indian cricket takes a bit of a beating at the loss of any player whether he has been successful or not,” he wrote.
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“In all these years, it is hard to recall an uncapped player bought for huge numbers who has justified his inclusion in the team,” Gavaskar added, while noting that players often perform better once price and pressure drop.
Gavaskar urged the BCCI to reverse the rule change and limit salaries for uncapped players to safeguard Indian cricket’s long-term interests.
