Virat Kohli has opted out of matches for personal reasons in the last few years. He missed one of the T20I matches against Afghanistan to celebrate his daughter’s birthday. He left the team before the start of the Test series in South Africa to celebrate New Year with wife Anushka Sharma. The veteran was unavailable for the five-Test series against England to be with his better-half, who was expecting their second child.
Rohit Sharma was not a part of the first Test against Australia to attend the birth of his second kid. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar doesn’t want this trend to continue and has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stop admiring players and take strict action for the betterment of Indian cricket.
Reacting to India’s 1-3 Test series defeat in Australia, Gavaskar mentioned that players who are committed should be selected.
India won the first Test against Australia by 295 runs but lost three games to concede the series.
“I think the next 8–10 days are important. It is high time we end the star culture. You will have to give your hundred percent to Indian cricket. Players must play every series unless there is a medical emergency. The players who are not ready to play shouldn’t be considered,” he told India Today.
The 75-year-old is disappointment over India not making it to the World Test Championship final.
“It is time to stop pampering players. We should have been in the final of the World Test Championship but didn’t qualify,” he added.
“The cricket board needs to stop admiring players and take action against them. They should be told that Indian cricket comes first and you can’t give importance to other priorities. If you don’t give importance to the Indian cricket, you don’t deserve to play for India,” he concluded.
