While taking a trip down memory lane during the inaugural Dilip Sardesai lecture on Thursday, Sunil Gavaskar touched upon some contemporary issues that the game is grappling with.

Speaking about the influence the late Sardesai had on him during his playing days, Gavaskar stressed that there was a urgent need to mentor present-day cricketers, particularly in the highly lucrative age of Twenty20. Sardesai had helped a young Gavaskar demystify the West Indian quicks during the historic 1971 tour, and the former India captain said today’s cricketers needed advice to deal with the opportunities that offered them quick money.

“Players in the age group of 19-22 are going the wrong way. Younger players get carried away by fame, publicity and success,” he said. A member of the IPL governing council, Gavaskar said he was wary of the impact big contracts could have on the minds of teenaged cricketer. “The worrying factor is far too many youngsters see the IPL as the be all and end all. This should not be the case since their ultimate goal should be earning the India cap,” he said.

There could come a stage, he warned, when players would give more importance to the IPL than playing for their state sides. “A lot of players miss out on domestic cricket before the IPL to avoid injuries. That is what we have to be very, very careful about.”

Changing behaviour

Another aspect of modern cricket that Gavaskar said needed to change was the changing on-field behaviour of players, expressing his reservations about the way several international cricketers celebrated their milestones.

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