'Repercussions Could End Few Careers': Sunil Gavaskar's Stern Warning For India Players Ahead Of 2023 ODI World Cup
Sunil Gavaskar, one of the most respected voices in Indian cricket, believes that if India yet again fails to clinch the ICC trophy, the failure will have serious consequences for a lot of players.
ODI World Cup 2023 in India: Former India skipper and 1983 World Cup-winning cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has issued a stern warning for Rohit Sharma & Co. ahead of much-awaited 2023 One-Day-International (ODI) World Cup in India. Since 2013, team India have not won an ICC Trophy. Under the remarkable leadership of two-time World Cup-winning skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India won the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
Sunil Gavaskar, one of the most respected voices in Indian cricket, believes that if India yet again fails to clinch the coveted ICC trophy, the failure will have some serious consequences for a lot of players, even ending a few careers.
"In a World Cup year any match missed means preparation gets hampered as the balance of the team gets affected. Another failure to win a World Cup will have repercussions that could possibly end a few international careers and that should be a red flag for those talking burnout and missing games for India," wrote Gavaskar in his column for Mid-day.
The veteran pointed out that BCCI should look into players taking rests so often, resulting in them missing India games.
"I honestly feel that the BCCI needs to look into this concept of rest. All the Grade A cricketers have received very good contracts. They receive payment for every match. Tell me if there is any company whose CEO, or MDs get so much time off? I feel that if Indian cricket is to become more professional, a line needs to be drawn. If you want to be rested, you need to reduce your guarantees. Then you take rest, because you don't want to play. But how can anyone say that I don't want to play for the Indian team. Which is why I do not agree to the concept," Gavaskar added.