Does anyone stay away for that long? Sunil Gavaskar questions MS Dhoni on potential return

Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday questioned M S Dhoni's sabbatical from game since World Cup semifinal loss in July, asking "Does anybody keep himself away from playing for India for that long?" Dhoni's future has been a subject of intense speculation since India's World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand on July 9. 38-year-old has t played since that heartbreaking defeat but is likely to make a comeback with IPL.   

Asked if Dhoni can make India's T20 World Cup squad, Gavaskar said, "Fitness is something that I can't tell you anything at all. question that needs to be asked is of MSD himself. He has t made himself available to play for India since 10th of July (9th actually). "That is important question. Does anybody keep himself away from playing for India for that long? That is question and rein lies answer," said former India captain after delivering 26th Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial lecture.

'Ranji Trophy is poor cousin of IPL'

In a recent interview, head coach Ravi Shastri said Dhoni may soon end his ODI career but could be in contention for a T20 World Cup berth provided he is in good form.  Gavaskar also said that Ranji Trophy will remain a "poor cousin" of cash-rich IPL until player's match fee in country's premier first-class tournament is substantially increased.

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A player w gets approximately Rs 2.5 lakh per match in Ranji Trophy, a far cry from meagre salary cricketers would withdraw t long ago, but still amount is match to millions IPL stars earn. "IPL dominates Ranji Trophy. Unless ir match fees are increased substantially, it will be considered an orphan and poor cousin of Indian cricket," Gavaskar said.

"I think 26 per cent of  BCCI revenue goes to players, out of which 13 per cent goes to international players, 10 per cent goes to domestic cricket, 1.5 to junior, 1.5 to women's cricket. That has t really been increased over past few years barring Test cricketers."

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Gavaskar said re is too much disparity between earnings of a first-class cricketer and an IPL recruit. "I am hoping new President Sourav Ganguly will look into this. disparity that you see between IPL players, who don't always play first-class cricket, and those who play all domestic games, about 80 days and somebody who plays 14 days of IPL. "re is a big disparity. I am talking about uncapped players. Hopefully, that will be narrowed down as much as possible." On ICC's proposal to trim Test cricket to four days from five, he added: "What I think doesn't matter. It is what current players think that matters. y should be consulted before BCCI takes a call."

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