Earlier this month, the BCCI had stated that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will work in tandem with the IPL franchises to monitor the workload of Indian players shortlisted for the 2023 ODI World Cup at home in October-November.
While the IPL teams are in distress after the board’s statement, India head coach Rahul Dravid on Monday (January 23) confirmed that the Indian cricketers who are in the scheme of things for the ODI World Cup will compete in the cash-rich tournament unless there are injury concerns.
"Workload management is something that is a part and parcel of the game today. We keep reviewing these things. You will call the break we have given to some of our boys (Rohit, Virat, KL) in the T20 series as workload management," Dravid answered a query from PTI during a media conference on the eve of the third ODI against New Zealand.
"Injury management and workload management are two different things, we have to keep balancing the two based on what the priority is for us in the short term considering the amount of cricket we play and ensuring that we have our big players available for us in the big tournaments."
He added that "targeted" players for the ODI World Cup will take part in the IPL as it will help them fine-tune their T20 skills.
"In terms of the IPL, the NCA and our medical team is constantly in touch with the franchises, and if there are any issues or injuries we connect with them. Unless the players are injured or there are other concerns then of course I think the BCCI has the right to pull them out.
"But if they are fit we do release them for the IPL because it's an important tournament. It is a very big tournament for the BCCI, in terms of our preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup as well. It is important as it helps us assist the performances of our players in the specific T20 format."
The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were not included in India’s squad for the last T20I series against Sri Lanka. The trio is not part of the team for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand as well.
However, Dravid said the break is needed before the two-week camp ahead of the all-important Test series against Australia, starting February 9 in Nagpur.
"You need to play certain white-ball tournaments in certain stages of time. Playing the four matches of the Border Gavaskar for a potential WTC qualification is important," Dravid said.
"There were some white ball tournaments we had to prioritise and after T20 WC. Virat has played all six games (ODIs). He will get some break along with Rohit and some of the other guys and then come back refreshed on the 2nd February for a two-weeks camp ahead of Tests."
(With PTI Inputs)
