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'We're Rich': Sehwag's Epic Response On Why Indian Players Are Barred From Other Leagues

Sehwag in fun chat with Adam Gilchrist  (X.com)Sehwag in fun chat with Adam Gilchrist  (X.com)

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag shut down Adam Gilchrist for his query on when the franchise league across the world would get to see Indian players. Sehwag quipped that Indians are rich and won’t participate in poor countries for the sake of money.

For the longest time, BCCI has imposed a rule that bars Indian professional cricketers from participating in franchise leagues across the world. Historically, the apex body has never granted NOC to any active player to move abroad to participate in mushrooming franchise T20 leagues.

The basic idea behind the constraint is to maintain the domestic structure of Indian cricket and ensure the players are focused and that their passion is not driven by monetary stakes.

Sehwag dissess Adam Gilchrist

That being said, for a while now, many former cricketers have raised their voices against the rule and called for Indian players to participate to enhance the popularity and competitiveness of these foreign leagues.

Adam Gilchrist, former Australian captain, proposed the same idea for ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag in Club Prairie Fire’s latest episode on Youtube.

Gilchrist quizzed Sehwag about whether Indian players will be able to have access to foreign franchise leagues in the future.

Adam Gilchrist - will Indian players ever be able to access the other leagues?

Sehwag was quick to shut down the idea and clapped back, saying Indians are rich and they need not go to poor countries to make money.

Virender Sehwag - no, why? No need. We're rich people, we don't go to poor countries.

Interestingly, Sehwag’s honest take isn’t completely untrue. BCCI, as the richest cricket board in the world, has invested heavily in the remuneration of the players to ensure the coming generation stays motivated and encouraged. 

Not only that, the BCCI have restructured domestic cricket format to keep the players entertained and ensure the tournaments don’t get monotonous.