15 September 2026 (Navroze Bureau) : Legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to rethink the role of its Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC), suggesting that the panel should have a much broader mandate and make greater use of the expertise of former Indian greats.
Gavaskar specifically named Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Ravi Shastri, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag as former players whose experience could be utilised to help shape Indian cricket.
Gavaskar Wants Bigger Role for CAC
In his latest column for Mid-Day, Gavaskar argued that the CAC should not be restricted largely to selecting the national coach and selectors.
He suggested expanding its responsibilities to include domestic and international scheduling and other matters concerning Indian cricket. According to Gavaskar, experienced former cricketers could bring valuable perspective to such a broader committee.
Sachin, Ganguly and Dravid Among Names Suggested
Gavaskar’s proposal includes some of the biggest names in Indian cricket.
He suggested that Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, along with Shastri, Kumble, Harbhajan and Sehwag, could contribute their experience to a strengthened advisory structure.
Gavaskar believes a committee featuring such personalities would carry considerable authority when interacting with the national team’s coach, captain and the head of the National Cricket Academy.
Duleep Trophy Controversy Provided the Trigger
Gavaskar’s comments came after his criticism of the way East Zone approached the Duleep Trophy final.
East Zone, led by Ishan Kishan, secured the title on the basis of a first-innings lead. Gavaskar had expressed dissatisfaction with the approach, arguing that domestic cricket needs fresh thinking and that rules should encourage teams to pursue outright victories.
Gavaskar Has Called for Domestic Cricket to Get More Attention
The former India captain has repeatedly raised concerns about the state of domestic cricket and the increasingly crowded international calendar.
Earlier, he warned that Indian cricketers were being pushed from one series or tournament to another without sufficient recovery time. He also argued that the Ranji Trophy should regain greater prominence within Indian cricket’s structure.
Proposal Extends to Women’s Cricket
Gavaskar’s idea is not limited to men’s cricket.
He also suggested creating a similar advisory structure for women’s cricket, where experienced former players could contribute to decisions involving the development and administration of the game.
His broader argument is that cricket administration could benefit from bringing more playing experience into strategic decision-making.
Why Gavaskar’s Suggestion Matters
The proposal comes at a time when the BCCI is reviewing how India’s increasingly packed cricket calendar should be managed.
The board has faced concerns over player workload and injuries, while discussions have also focused on improving the planning of India’s future tours and creating adequate preparation and recovery periods.
A Call to Use Cricketing Expertise
Gavaskar’s central argument is that former players who have experienced international cricket at the highest level can provide a different perspective from administrators alone.
Bringing several generations of Indian cricket’s leading figures together could, in his view, help the BCCI make better-informed decisions on scheduling, coaching, selection and the wider development of the sport.
‘Will It Ever Happen?’
Gavaskar acknowledged that his proposal may sound ambitious.
He ended his suggestion by questioning whether such a broader advisory structure could actually be implemented or whether it would remain only an idea.
For now, there has been no indication that the BCCI has formally adopted the proposal.