Former India bowler and 1983 World Cup winner, Balvinder Singh Sandhu, has put forth a truly unconventional idea to tackle the demanding schedule faced by India’s senior cricketers. Sandhu firmly believes that the BCCI should seriously consider introducing specialist fielders in both domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
His argument is clear: this strategic move would help safeguard the careers and manage the immense workload of established stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah. Writing in his Mid-Day column, Sandhu passionately questioned the current approach, stating, “Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg?”
The seasoned cricketer emphasized the significant toll that relentless international fixtures take on aging players. He underlined that these big names remain the primary draw for fans, acting as the ‘magnets’ that pull crowds to stadiums. “The magnets are the stars — Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah. Without them, this circus is just a cheap mela,” he elaborated, highlighting the irreplaceable value of these players.
Sandhu went on to challenge the necessity of subjecting these marquee players to exhaustive fielding drills, pointing out that spectators primarily attend matches to witness their exceptional batting or bowling prowess. “Nobody buys a ticket to see Kohli dive at square leg. They come for a cover drive. Let substitutes do the fielding in domestic cricket, and remember, IPL is domestic cricket. Protect the stars, stretch their careers,” he advocated, making a strong case for prioritizing their main skills.
Advocating for the formal introduction of specialist fielders, particularly in the fast-paced T20 format, Sandhu suggested that six or seven such players could be utilized in domestic competitions. He believes that international stars should be explicitly exempt from physically intensive fielding duties. “T20 here should have specialist fielders. Six or seven of them. Let the stars save their bodies for batting and bowling. Even in domestic cricket, internationals should play without breaking their backs. Youngsters will learn, seniors will last, and the game will gain,” he asserted, envisioning a future where talent is preserved and the game flourishes.
He also expressed his disapproval of the tendency to overly romanticize fielding, reminding everyone of the inherent risks involved. “Diving catches look good in replays. They also send men into surgery,” Sandhu wrote, underscoring the physical dangers players face in the pursuit of spectacular catches.
Reflecting on past controversies, Sandhu recalled the criticism leveled against Jasprit Bumrah for missing the Oval Test in England earlier in the year. He lamented that the pacer was not given an adequate opportunity to explain his situation. Sandhu urged the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to create an environment where players can openly discuss their workload management challenges without fear of unwarranted backlash.