"You come for 7 matches, take the money and leave" - Former India star Aakash Chopra accuses star overseas players of disrespecting the IPL
The IPL 2026 season is just around the corner, but many teams are already grappling with a squad crisis. Australian stars Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc will all miss the start of the tournament. While Cummins and Hazlewood have cited injuries, the situation with Starc has sparked genuine controversy: Cricket Australia is forcibly holding back a fully fit player so he can rest up ahead of the upcoming Test series against India—effectively sabotaging the plans of his club, the Delhi Capitals.
Details: Former India international Aakash Chopra delivered a scathing critique of both the actions of foreign cricket boards and the attitude of the players themselves toward their contractual obligations.
Chopra voiced his bewilderment at the decision by Australian officials, pointing out that Starc has already retired from T20 internationals and hasn’t played for the past two months since the Ashes. In his view, such interference in the affairs of the Indian league is unacceptable—especially when it involves fully recovered athletes for whom clubs have paid massive sums.
The situation surrounding New Zealander Lockie Ferguson of Punjab Kings has caused even greater outrage, as he opted to skip seven matches of the championship to spend time with his family.
“You’ll come for only half the season, pocket your notional million and leave—what’s the point? By then, your team’s campaign could already be in ruins,” the Indian commented passionately.
Chopra made a direct appeal to the franchises, urging them to reconsider their overseas recruitment policies for players who breach their commitments for non-medical reasons.
For the record: Irfan Pathan delivered a harsh reality check to 14-year-old Indian cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryanwans.
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
