Former IPL chairman Lalit Modi recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to lash out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for what he called ‘outrageous scheduling.’
Modi said that the players needed time with their families, and the welfare of the players should be paramount.
Furthermore, he went on to say that the Board should be made up mainly of former players and needs to have a professional CEO.
Lalit Modi responds to NDTV report
In his post, Modi was responding to a report by NDTV, which stated that Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir was unhappy with the BCCI over the tight scheduling for the team.
The final of IPL 2026 is currently scheduled for May 31, although the venue for the final is not confirmed. As it stands, just 6 days later, i.e, on June 6, India are scheduled to play Afghanistan in a one-off Test match at Mullanpur.
With such close proximity to the IPL final, it is extremely likely that certain senior players will be rested for the Afghanistan game.
Lalit Modi said that the BCCI was ‘killing its players’ with this ‘hectic scheduling’ and that the board doesn’t need to worry about money.
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India’s recent struggles at home and need for downtime
Over the last two years, India have struggled at home in Test cricket. India were whitewashed by New Zealand in 2024 and South Africa in 2025 at home. Under such circumstances, the decision to rest senior players, even if against Afghanistan, has come under scrutiny. The game against Afghanistan will not be a part of the World Test Championship.
These results have raised questions in the minds of fans and experts alike about whether or not coach Gambhir is actually suited for the job, at least in red ball cricket.
The whitewashes at home have also put India’s chances for qualifying for the World Test Championship final in jeopardy. Following the loss to New Zealand in 2024, India went on to lose the Border-Gavaskar trophy to Australia later that year and missed qualification to the WTC final in 2025.
In January of this year, India’s Test captain Shubman Gill had asked the BCCI to host a 15-day preparatory camp before every Test series.
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‘Get a heart and soul’ – Lalit Modi to BCCI
Lalit Modi went on to say that the BCCI should keep the self-development of the players at the heart of the organization and stop treating players like ‘mules’.
He also said that the board ought to pay top salaries to players and work on their human resource management. He also urged the BCCI to get a ‘heart and soul’ and work on improving the fan experience in the stadium.
Read Lalit Modi’s tweet here:
I agree. The bcci is killing their players with the hectic scheduling. Guys stop this outrageous scheduling you are putting the boys thru. They need time with their families and JUST OFF TIME – You don’t need the money. I CREATED ANNUITY Revenue which the world envy’s. You will… https://t.co/vkYYXa3kf6
— Lalit Kumar Modi (@LalitKModi) April 22, 2026