Sunil Gavaskar has raised a significant concern regarding the soaring salaries of uncapped Indian players in the IPL, suggesting that the financial windfall can actually hinder their long-term development. According to the legendary former opener, being bought for massive sums creates an intense pressure to perform, and in many cases, players struggle to live up to the expectations.

This, he believes, not only affects the individual careers of these young cricketers but could also damage the broader ecosystem of Indian cricket. In his column for Sportstar, Gavaskar proposed that the BCCI should reconsider the current salary structure for retaining uncapped players. He specifically pointed out that the limit was raised to ₹4 crore to accommodate MS Dhoni’s return as an uncapped player during last year’s auction, and he now feels it’s time to bring that cap down again.

“Maybe it is time to relook at that and reduce it further so that Indian cricket does not lose out on talent that seems to flounder under pressure when auctioned for crores,” he wrote.

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Sunil Gavaskar emphasised that while franchises might move on from underperforming players without much concern, the bigger loss is to Indian cricket itself.

“A whole lot of the players bought for huge amounts simply fade away as their hunger and drive are satiated. To the franchises, it perhaps doesn’t matter, but Indian cricket takes a bit of a beating at the loss of any player, whether he has been successful or not,” he added.

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He also touched on the emotional and psychological challenges young players face after sudden financial success. Many of these cricketers aren’t even part of their state’s top squads, and to suddenly find themselves in dressing rooms alongside global icons can be intimidating.

“They’re often overwhelmed—by the money, the fame, and the presence of stars they’ve only seen on TV. The transition is not easy,” Sunil Gavaskar explained, calling for a more thoughtful, balanced approach to nurturing future talent.