Drop These Players: Gavaskar Fumes at IPL No-Shows, Slams ‘Taking for Granted’ Culture

Mumbai—Sunil Gavaskar has launched a scathing attack on overseas stars who will skip the early stretch of IPL 2026, demanding that franchises drop repeat offenders rather than indulge what he calls a culture of entitlement.

Writing in his Sportstar column, the former India captain singled out the Australian pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc—each set to miss the first three fixtures on the advice of Cricket Australia’s medical staff—as well as New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson, who has chosen to remain at home with his newborn child. None of the absences, Gavaskar noted, were communicated to teams before the auction.

“There is also the usual taking the franchise for granted issue with some overseas players, who are not going to be available for non-injury and personal reasons,” Gavaskar wrote. “The owners of the franchises go out of their way to accommodate their players, often paying for families to come and spend time with the players at no cost to the millionaire players, mind you. It’s the Indian way and hospitality, which often is misunderstood as a right by some and who then try and take advantage of the situation.”

Gavaskar warned that last-minute withdrawals wreck months of squad-building. “All the planning in forming the squad which they believe can help them win goes out of the window when players decide to come whenever they want,” he said, urging owners to “get tough and drop these players.”

The broadside lands amid growing unease within the league. Commentator Aakash Chopra has already questioned Ferguson’s parental leave, while India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested Kolkata Knight Riders should consider trimming Cameron Green’s purse if the all-rounder cannot bowl through the season.

With IPL 2026’s opening match days away, the debate over player availability and contractual accountability has moved centre-stage once again.