BCCI Not In Favour Of 'Culture Of Picking And Choosing Games': Report

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Gambhir opposes the mega-star culture in Indian cricket. Siraj's performance supports a uniform team culture. BCCI aims to end players picking games under workload management.
Gautam Gambhir has consistently opposed the mega-star culture in Indian cricket, and Mohammed Siraj's remarkable performance throughout the English summer has provided significant support to the Indian head coach.
The commendable 2-2 series draw in England will undoubtedly empower Gambhir and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar to enforce a uniform team culture where no individual is treated as more than an equal, as has happened in recent years.
It is understood that the selection committee, Gambhir, and the decision-makers in the Indian cricket board are unified in their stance against players picking and choosing games and series under the guise of workload management.
'There have been discussions and the message will be sent across to the centrally contracted players, especially those who are all format regulars that this culture of picking and choosing games won't be entertained in near future," a senior BCCI official privy to current happenings told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
'It doesn't mean that workload management will be thrown out of the window but a more objective approach is expected in near future. Obviously, fast bowlers' workload needs to be managed but it can't be accepted that in the name of workload management, people will miss crucial matches."
Siraj, who bowled 185.3 overs across five Tests, along with extensive fielding and net practice during the last six weeks, exemplifies peak fitness.
Moreover, Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Akash Deep's performances have demonstrated that even the biggest stars are dispensable and no one is bigger than the team.
Even England captain Ben Stokes, despite multiple issues, bowled marathon spells until the end of the fourth Test, sparking debates on whether workload has become an 'overrated concept" used for convenience.
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticised the excessive use of workload management.
'When you are playing for your country, forget the aches and the pains. On the border, do you think that the jawans are complaining about cold? What did Rishabh Pant show you? He came out to bat with a fracture. That is what you expect from the players. Playing cricket for India is an honour," Gavaskar told 'India Today'.
'You are representing 140 crore people and that is what we saw in Mohammed Siraj. I think Siraj bowled his heart out, and he debunked forever this business of workload. For five Test matches, non-stop he has bowled 7-8 over spells, because the captain wanted him and the country expected of him," added the former skipper.
'I hope that the word 'workload' goes out of the Indian cricket dictionary. I've been saying that for a long time… And I think that is the one thing that we all should keep in mind that this workload is only a mental thing, not so much a physical thing," he added.
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