Ian Michael Chappell, the legend, spoke to The Telegraph at the SCG on Saturday afternoon.

Excerpts...

Q We’re in times of bans and suspensions... Ben Stokes, then Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft... And, now, K.L. Rahul and Hardik Pandya...

A If players make mistakes then they need to pay. A ban or suspension is a way of sending out a message.

Q When did you get to know of Rahul and Hardik being suspended?

A On reaching the ground... I’m, of course, not aware of what exactly was said by them on TV.

Q The Boards of England, Australia and India have acted decisively...

A Well, if players make big mistakes, then they require big penalties. I take my hat off to the Boards for having acted the way they have.

Q Don’t players, being role models, have a bigger responsibility to be careful with what they say and where?

A I like the fact that politicians keep talking of sportsmen as role models. How about politicians acting as role models as well! Just behave like a decent citizen and all will be fine. You don’t have to complicate it.

Q Has the explosion of social media added to the pressure on players?

A I’m not on any of the platforms, so it’s hard for me to answer. If I was to equate social media with newspapers then, if I had a bad day, I’d avoid reading the next day’s newspapers. Or avoid listening to the evening news on the radio/viewing the prime time news on TV.

Q Generally, is there a need for greater sensitivity?

A There’s always a need for greater sensitivity. If you don’t behave in a certain manner, you deserve to be punished. Nobody will argue with that.

Q How would you have reacted had you been the captain and, just hours before a series, two of your players got suspended? What would you have told them?

A Don’t know... Never had to face that situation. Can’t tell you.

Q Are you looking forward to the return of Smith and Warner in the Australia team?

A Not half as much as the Australian team must be looking forward to their return. The team needs them.

Q Why aren't you looking forward to Smith and Warner's return?

A Look, I just commentate (on radio, this season). I don’t root for Australia, don’t root for anybody else. So, who is playing and who isn’t, doesn’t interest me. Obviously, it would be nice to watch Warner.

Q Final one... Some still say the one-year bans on Smith and Warner were too harsh. Your take?

A Cricket Australia did them a favour. Had their bans been less, some of the crowds would have been antagonistic in the early part of the summer. It wouldn’t have done either Smith or Warner any good at all.