The IPL 2023 begins on March 31 with CSK taking on GT in Ahmedabad.
The long home season for the Indian cricket team finally ended on Wednesday with a 1-2 ODI series defeat to Australia. Most players will now enjoy some much-needed break before joining their respective franchises for the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League which begins on 31st March.
However, post the IPL 2023, India will play Australia in the World Test Championship final and will then hit the road for the ODI World Cup, which begins on October 5 onwards.
The BCCI is extra cautious when it comes to the fitness of Indian players as Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer and Prasidh Krishna have already missed quite a lot of time due to injuries, with Bumrah and Iyer suffering back issues, while Krishna having suffered a lumbar stress fracture and undergone surgery for the same.
And as per News18 CricketNext report, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah has already instructed the NCA (National Cricket Academy) to keep a close watch on India Test and ODI regulars and monitor their workload right through the IPL.
“It’s very clear. It’s a very crucial year and we don’t want any last-minute injuries. All stakeholders have been informed that under no circumstances (will) a player be rushed to play IPL fixtures. If anyone is carrying an injury or niggle, the BCCI medical team and NCA will monitor,” said an official close to the developments.
The focus will be more on fast bowlers, especially Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, who did the bulk of bowling in both Tests and ODIs against Australia recently. The duo is supposed to be the lead pace attack for India in the WTC 2023 final and then in the World Cup as well.
The BCCI wants to avoid any last-minute injuries as they were burned last year when Ravindra Jadeja injured his knee during the Asia Cup 2022 and missed the T20 World cup as a result.
(News18 CricketNext report)