The Indian cricket team is also experiencing a clear transition phase following Gautam Gambhir's appointment as the new head coach replacing Rahul Dravid. Under this shift, some of Indian cricket's biggest stars, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin, have made their retirements from Test cricket official. Now that India drew the series 2-2 against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, strong reports indicate that the BCCI is keen to end the practice of players playing in and out of matches depending on workload choices. BCCI Seeks Pledge From All-Format Players As per a PTI report, Indian selectors, Gambhir, and senior BCCI administrators are on the same page when it comes to their perception that players, particularly those under central contracts and playing across formats, should give their all and not miss matches at their own will. A senior BCCI official told PTI on condition of anonymity: "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" Also Read | 'Do Jawans on Border Complain?': Gavaskar Slams 'Workload' Talk in Indian Cricket The report further stated that although the fast bowlers will continue to be tracked with reference to workload, the idea cannot be abused as a justification to miss crucial games. "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." In the just-concluded England series, Mohammed Siraj was the lone Indian pacer to feature in all five Tests. He bowled a record 185.3 overs, the most by any individual in the series, and demonstrated that discipline and hard work do walk hand in hand. Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep also rose to the occasion along with Siraj, and it is clear that the Indian side has ample depth and even a big hitter can be dropped if the situation arises. The episode also invited comparisons with England skipper Ben Stokes, who, in the midst of injuries, persisted with long spells of bowling till the fourth Test. This has created a broader debate among fans and pundits whether "workload management" has morphed into an excuse rather than a necessity. With a new coach and a strong message from the top, it appears Indian cricket is headed in a direction where performance, dedication, and availability will establish a player's standing, not reputation.