England coach Chris Silverwood on Wednesday (February 17) stated that it is "very difficult" to tell players not to participate in the IPL even as his team's much-debated rotation policy in Test matches came under scanner after their heavy 317-run defeat at the hands of India in the second Test.

ECB has a clear rotation policy in place with cricketers having to spend months in a bio-bubble due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, the multi-format players like Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer are being rotated during the twin tour of Sri Lanka and India.

"It is very difficult to say to the players that no you can't play IPL. You can't say no if you just see the numbers. IPL is a marquee cricket event in T20 world and so it's very difficult," Silverwood said during a media conference, as quoted by PTI.

Buttler and Moeen returned home after the first and second Test against India respectively whereas Stokes and Archer were rested during the recent Test series in Sri Lanka.

Now Bairstow and Mark Wood have joined the team while Archer might return home during white-ball leg with Buttler re-joining.

Asked if playing IPL has become a priority, the England coach replied: "I don't think it's an issue because players are playing fantastic high level of T20 cricket which can only benefit us really. Moving forward it benefits the player.

“Obviously players make their own minds up about competitions (BBL, CPL, IPL) they go in but we benefit from their playing."

"I am totally at peace with it. Just to reiterate Test cricket remains the priority at least to me."

While the likes of Stokes, Archer, Chris Woakes have all been retained by their respective franchises, players such as Moeen Ali, Dawid Malan along with 15 others will go under the hammer at the IPL 2021 auction, scheduled for February 18.

There are speculations that England cricketers could miss New Zealand Test matches in order to fulfill IPL knock-out commitments.

Speaking on the same line, Silverwood said: "One of the things that I feel is it gives opportunity to people. It's exciting for me to see people make debuts, see people do well. As I said, I see the exciting side about it."

Asked if he will pray that Mark Wood or Moeen Ali don't get bidders at the auction, the coach said: "No, I want them to do well, supportive of the decision they make really. If they are picked, it will be brilliant and I can only wish that they do well, get knowledge of conditions and improve as players."

The rotation policy is being scrutinized as people are skipping Test matches for T20s, especially the multi-format players who have lucrative IPL deals.

Silverwood blamed it to length of stay in bio-bubble which could de-motivate any player unable to meet their families.

"Length of time during Test series means families can't come to us. So people can get to their families. Playing T20 in India with full strength squad gives us fantastic opportunity for us to learn as group and take away from that," he said keeping World T20 in mind.

(With PTI inputs)