'India Or Franchise Cricket?': Ravi Shastri Calls For New Clause In IPL Contracts, Asks Players To Decide Priority

Just 10 days after CSK won the IPL 2023 Final, Indian players squared off against Australia in the WTC 2023 Final.

Team India's former head coach Ravi Shastri did not mince his words while blaming Indian Premier League (IPL) for their failure.Team India's former head coach Ravi Shastri did not mince his words while blaming Indian Premier League (IPL) for their failure. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

IND vs AUS WTC 2023 Final: Unless for a miracle in the ongoing India vs Australia World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 Final, India are heading towards a shambolic defeat against Australia in the summit clash at The Oval. Last time India won an ICC final event was 10 years ago in the 2013 Champions Trophy, which MS Dhoni-led side had won by defeating England. The final result of IND vs AUS WTC Final 2023 seems quite clear and predictable after two-and-a-half day's play and the fans and cricket pundits have already started the 'post-mortem' of a consistently failing Rohit Sharma-led Indian side.

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Team India's former head coach Ravi Shastri, under whom India had reached the final of inaugural WTC Final in 2021, did not mince his words while blaming Indian Premier League (IPL) for their failure, urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to ask Indian players to pick priorities. He even suggested the apex board to have new clauses in contracts of players playing IPL. Just 10 days after CSK won the IPL 2023 Final, Indian players squared off against Australia in the WTC 2023 Final.

"You must set your priorities, right? What is the priority? India or franchise cricket? You have to decide that. If you say franchise cricket, then forget this (WTC final). If this is important, then as the custodian of the sport, the BCCI are the bosses," said Shastri to Star Sports ahead of Day 3 of the WTC Final.

"There should be a clause in the IPL contract that if they need a player out of the IPL in the interest of India, they have the right to do it.

"First, put the clause and then ask the franchises to decide how much they want to invest. That is very important. You are the custodian of the sport. You control cricket in the country," Shastri added.

Batting first, Australia posted 469 in their first innings. In reply, India were bowled out for mere 296 runs on Day 3.