New Delhi: Legendary cricketer and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has voiced strong concerns over the widening disparity between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, particularly when it comes to player recognition and financial rewards.
In a column for Sportstar, Gavaskar acknowledged the IPL’s undeniable impact on Indian cricket, crediting it for nurturing talents such as Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. He emphasized that the league has been instrumental in propelling many lesser-known players into national and global limelight.
However, Gavaskar drew attention to the stark contrast in how performances in the IPL versus domestic circuits are perceived and rewarded.
“One performance in the IPL can catapult an unknown player into the reckoning for higher honours. This is in stark contrast to the Ranji Trophy, where even top-notch performances struggle to find a mention in the headlines,” he wrote.
Citing the example of 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was signed by the Rajasthan Royals for ₹1.1 crore, Gavaskar pointed out that such opportunities are rarely available to players who consistently excel in India’s traditional domestic tournaments.
He went on to highlight the financial imbalance, noting that even players who perform throughout the Ranji, Vijay Hazare, or Syed Mushtaq Ali seasons often do not receive contracts equivalent to the base price of an uncapped IPL player — ₹30 lakh.
“There are several instances where one standout IPL season provides a player more financial gain than an entire Ranji Trophy career,” Gavaskar stated, calling the situation “sour” for those grinding it out in the domestic arena.
As a solution, Gavaskar suggested that state cricket associations should step up their support for domestic players. “This imbalance can be reduced to a great extent if other associations, like Mumbai, match the BCCI’s payments to Ranji players,” he proposed.
While Gavaskar reaffirmed his admiration for what the IPL has achieved, his remarks reflect a growing call within cricketing circles to restore balance and value to India’s premier domestic competitions, ensuring that consistent performers across all formats are rewarded adequately.
