With the fast-approaching World Test Championship (WTC) final and the ODI World Cup, the workload management has once again become a major topic of discussion in Indian cricket.
Earlier this year, the BCCI said that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) will work in tandem with the IPL franchises to monitor the workload of players shortlisted for the 50-over World Cup at home in October-November.
While the IPL 2023 season will end on May 28, the WTC final is slated to be held at The Oval in London from June 7 to 11.
Notably, India sealed a WTC final spot last week and now the former cricketers and experts feel that the Indian players should be rested in between games during the upcoming IPL season.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has urged the BCCI to talk to the IPL franchises to allow players a much-needed break.
“Even during the IPL the board has to tell the franchise, listen we need him, India needs him, so for India’s sake, if he doesn’t play those games it will be good,” Shastri told The Indian Express.
Jasprit Bumrah and Shreyas Iyer are currently undergoing rehabilitation for their injuries. With the WTC final scheduled just a week after the IPL, it is a challenge for the board to send a fit Indian team to UK.
“The volume of cricket has increased. Rest period is getting decreased, this is where establishment and players have to sit across the table. They need to be told that you need that much break and give them so much game to play,” Shastri added.
Ravi Shastri also opined that KL Rahul should keep wickets instead of KS Bharat during the WTC final against Australia.
“KL Rahul should keep behind the wickets in the WTC, as Rishabh Pant is not there. In England seamers will bowl more, so the keeper will be standing behind most of the time. He will strengthen the batting at numbers 5-6 and he did well in the ODI game in Mumbai. KS Bharat is a newcomer, it is not the case that we have to play him. Bharat will learn with exposure. And in these big games, one has to weigh all the options,” he remarked.
