Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar (ANI photo)

Sunil Gavaskar have vigorously defended IPL and this bcci Amid renewed criticism from former players and commentators over the growing influence of franchise cricket on the international calendar.The debate intensified during and after the 2026 IPL season, particularly in England, where concerns were raised about players prioritizing franchise commitments over national duty. Most of the discussion focused on jofra archerwho stayed with me Rajasthan Royals for the IPL playoffs and missed England’s opening test against New Zealand as a result.jacob bethel There was another player caught in the middle of the debate at the beginning of the season. After limited opportunities in IPL, former England captain alistair cook It was suggested that the young player would be better off returning to county cricket in preparation for the upcoming red-ball campaign. Former cricketer Simon Doull and Michael Atherton Archer’s decision to remain in the IPL rather than join the England Test team was also questioned, rekindling the broader conversation around franchise leagues and Test cricket.Writing in his column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar objected to what he sees as constant criticism indian cricket And BCCI from foreign voices. The former India captain argued that many of those who criticize the IPL ultimately benefit from the commercial power generated by Indian cricket and its huge fan base.“It is natural to criticize Indian cricket and the BCCI,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day. “But when it comes to revenue, they still have to come to the BCCI because it is Indian cricket and Indian fans that fill their coffers more than their traditional rivalries.”Gavaskar also pointed to the financial rewards that foreign cricket boards get from IPL contracts involving their players. In his view, critics often overlook those benefits by complaining about players being unavailable for international duty during tournaments.“Complaining about the IPL and their players not being available for their country is another favorite pastime. However, not a word is said about the 10% their board gets from each player’s fee for their country,” he said.The great batsman also highlighted that he believes the IPL is a unique contribution to world cricket, adding that foreign boards get a share of players’ earnings from the tournament.“This adds up to over a million pounds every year. Does The Hundred give any percentage to the board of its foreign players playing in its tournament? No sir. Does the BBL or any other country’s T20 league give any percentage to the board of its foreign players. No sir again. Only IPL does. Yet the whining about BCCI and Indian cricket continues. Wake up and smell the coffee, friends. Indian cricket is here to stay, no matter how you try to drag it down.”Gavaskar’s comments come at a time when there is a huge debate going on over the relationship between franchise cricket and the international game. While concerns remain over player workload and availability, the former India captain made it clear that he believes the IPL’s contribution to global cricket is often overlooked by its critics.