Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar raised questions over the reasons presented by Virat Kohli and KL Rahul for missing out on the previous round of Ranji Trophy matches and even asked if BCCI will take some action against the superstar cricketers if they miss out on the final group stage game of India's top domestic tournament for their respective teams. Kohli was unable for Delhi's game against Saurashtra where they suffered a loss due to a neck sprain and similarly, Rahul was also absent from Karnataka's match against Punjab because of an elbow niggle.
Sunil Gavaskar on Virat and Rahul
Rahul was suffering from an elbow niggle, while Kohli was suffering from a neck ailment, both guys gave niggles as their reason for missing the games. In his Sportstar column, Gavaskar questioned why, if both men were truly hurt, they did not seek treatment and recuperation at the National Cricket Academy.
"It would be interesting to see if KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Virat Kohli, who didn’t play in last week’s round of Ranji Trophy matches, will play the next round. More interesting would be what action the BCCI takes if they don’t play. Were they injured? Getting a medical certificate for an ‘injury’ is child’s play, and if they are injured, did they go to the NCA for treatment and recovery, as Nitish Reddy was sent the moment he had that side strain?" wrote Gavaskar.
Gavaskar further added that the players could have opted out of the games due to non-injury reasons and even asked why did they not report at NCA which is common practice for the BCCI-contracted players after they suffer any kind of injury.
"Isn’t that the practice for the BCCI-contracted players, that as soon as there’s an injury, they have to report to the NCA, and only after the BCCI experts there certify them as fit can they resume playing for India? For all we know, these players might have opted out of the earlier games for non-injury reasons. We shall soon find out," he added.
Gavaskar cites the example of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan
Sunil Gavaskar also cited the example of Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan and wondered if all the stars who have made their return to the Ranji Trophy have done so to avoid what happened with both of them last year. BCCI as punishment stripped Iyer and Kishan off the central contracts after they missed Ranji Trophy games.
"The BCCI and the coach’s insistence on the Indian players playing in the Ranji Trophy meant that most of the players who were on the disastrous tour of Australia turned up for their state teams in the Ranji Trophy. Whether their hearts were in it or they did that only to ensure they were not stripped of their BCCI contracts, like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were, after missing out on the Ranji Trophy games last year, is known only to them," Gavaskar wrote.
Both Kohli and Rahul will be making their domestic cricket return when they play the next round of Ranji Trophy matches for Delhi and Karnataka, starting from January 30. Kohli has joined the Delhi team and was even training with them ahead of the game.