Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi has strongly criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), accusing it of harassing players and prioritizing money over the welfare of players.
Modi’s comments came in response to an NDTV report that said India head coach Gautam Gambhir was unhappy with the team’s busy schedule ahead of the upcoming one-off Test against Afghanistan.
According to the report, Gambhir feared that several Indian players would be involved in the IPL 2026 final on May 31 and may have to join the national team almost immediately for the Test match against Afghanistan starting on June 6. This could force the selection committee to call up reserve Test players for the match, despite India’s recent struggles in domestic red-ball cricket.
Reacting to the report, Modi said the board was “killing” Indian cricketers with relentless planning and treating them like “mules”.
“BCCI is killing its players with hectic scheduling. Guys, stop the nasty scheduling you are putting the boys through. They need time with their families and just some time off. You don’t need money,” Modi said.
He further added that the board should focus on the welfare of the players rather than financial concerns, arguing that the IPL has already created sufficient long-term financial security for Indian cricket.
“I’ve created an annuity income that’s the envy of the world. When you sit in these chairs, you’ll never have to worry about it. Do something good with your decisions, for God’s sake. The welfare of the players is paramount. Don’t overburden them,” he said.
Earlier, India’s Test captain Shubman Gill also spoke about the lack of preparation time before the red-ball assignments and said there should be at least two weeks of camp before the Test series begins.
The issue of player workload has become an increasing concern in modern cricket, especially with the ever-expanding IPL window and India’s busy international calendar. With players transitioning directly from high-intensity franchise cricket to key international assignments, there are increasing concerns about fatigue, injury and lack of preparation with the red ball.
India have sent second or even third teams for overseas T20 assignments many times, mostly against the associated nations. But whether India can afford it in a home Test match remains to be seen.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
23 Apr 2026 01:21 IST
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