Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has scrutinized the state of domestic cricket in the country as he questioned why consistent performers in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy do not receive the same attention as some of the figures in the Indian Premier League (IPL). While making a case for his argument, he highlighted the names of Harsh Dubey and Yash Rathod and how their contributions went unnoticed during Vidarbha's Ranji Trophy-winning journey.

The ongoing IPL 2025 season has featured players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Digvesh Singh Rathi, and Ashutosh Sharma, among others, captivating the interest of the nation’s cricket-loving fans. However, Gavaskar asserts that the same admiration and focus should be directed towards athletes who labor tirelessly each season in domestic cricket.

Gavaskar also noted that Kerala should have been the center of attention after reaching their first Ranji Trophy final. He remarked that the achievement was even more significant, considering they accomplished it without their star player, Sanju Samson.

"What this IPL has demonstrated is that once again, a single performance can propel an unknown player into contention for greater accolades. One performance also implies that the entire family, teachers, coaches, clubs, and all the relatives in the town receive exposure that they have never experienced before. This stands in stark contrast to performances in the National Championship, the Ranji Trophy, where outstanding accomplishments do not even make headlines," Gavaskar stated in his column for Sportstar.

"Have you read or seen anything about the families and coaches of two of the standout performers – Yash Rathod and Harsh Dubey, for Vidarbha in this year’s Ranji Trophy season? Similarly, has there been any coverage that illuminates the impressive run that the Kerala team had in reaching the final of the Ranji Trophy? They achieved this without the influential presence of Sanju Samson, who was injured, and that is all the more reason their efforts should have received significantly more recognition than they have," he concluded.

In what job do you get paid once the work is completed?

The 1983 World Cup champion also encouraged the state associations to perform their responsibilities properly and compensate the cricketers under their governance on time to provide them with additional motivation for their efforts during the lengthy and challenging domestic season.

"As if to exacerbate the situation, at the conclusion of the Ranji and domestic Vijay Hazare, Syed Mushtaq Ali seasons, those who have participated throughout the entire season do not even reach the minimum base price of ₹30 lakh of an uncapped IPL player. This disparity can be significantly minimized if other associations, such as Mumbai, match the BCCI’s payments to Ranji players," Gavaskar stated.

"Regrettably, this situation persists as most associations are content to retain the substantial multi-crore subsidy that the BCCI provides in their accounts and rarely utilize it for the advancement of the game within their jurisdiction. Since BCCI payments reach players only after the Ranji season concludes, State associations should also compensate them with a corresponding amount. After all, in which profession does one receive payment months after the work has been completed? It is to be hoped that in the upcoming season, an increasing number of State associations will step up to enhance the income of their Ranji players and encourage them to perform at their best," he continued.

Gavaskar, who is regarded as one of the finest batsmen the world has ever witnessed, remarked that domestic cricketers not receiving their fair share creates an unpleasant feeling as they participate in nearly three times the number of matches as in the IPL.

"There are numerous such instances every year of consistently performing Ranji players being overlooked while the glamour of the IPL ensures that one performance throughout the season makes headlines, which are often exaggerated. There are many cases of these one-match performers being out of the game within a season or two, yet a single season of IPL frequently offers them much more than an entire career in the Ranji Trophy," said Gavaskar.

"While this inequality can be linked to the IPL's appeal to the public and consequently the massive broadcasting and sponsorship rights, it does leave a bitter taste, particularly for those who play nearly three times the number of cricket matches as in the IPL," he added.

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