MSK Prasad shares contrasting opinion from Virat Kohli regarding IPL 2019

Dixit Bhargav
|Published 02/03/2019

Prasad shares contrasting opinion from Virat Kohli: The Chief Indian selector and the captain have recently released contracting statements.

The Indian cricket team has started its last international assignment before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The five-match series will give the Indian team management and the selectors a clear picture of how the India squad for the world event look like.

Addressing the media during the pre-series press conference, India captain Virat Kohli spoke against the Indian Premier League having an effect on the selection of the World Cup squad.

Because there is a change in the format, the IPL performances shouldn’t change the minds of the selectors during selecting the World Cup squad. Furthermore, there remains less sense in fast-tracking someone from playing T20s in India to playing the World Cup in England.

There is no hiding to the fact that Kohli’s words would have come as an assurance for the players who have been playing for India in the recent times. However, Chief Selector MSK Prasad has given the impression of having a contrasting opinion regarding the same.

Prasad shares his opinion on the IPL debate

Speaking during India Today’s panel discussion on Friday, Prasad was vocal about how IPL can come good for the Indian team. The chief selector highlighted the pressure situations which the players will face and gain experience from.

“I have a different view [on the IPL debate]. IPL is an international tournament which offers so many complex pressure situations. Rather than sitting and training, you will have to go through so many pressure situations be it with the batting, bowling or fielding. This IPL offers a competitive atmosphere,” Prasad was quoted as saying.

Prasad cited examples of India’s stellar performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 where the team played the IPL before a world event. He also laid emphasis on keeping the bowlers fit before the World Cup.

“If you see the example of 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy, we did exceedingly well because we had IPL prior to that. It will only help our players which otherwise a normal bilateral series will definitely not offer. It is just four overs [for bowlers] but it is important how to keep themselves fit other than that,” Prasad added.

Players will have to be honest regarding injuries

In a recent interaction with the reporters, Kohli had warned the Indian cricketers of not picking up “bad habits” during the IPL. Apart from talking about players not moving away from the ODI scheme of things, Kohli was also vocal about how players will have to honest with themselves regarding their injuries.

“If your team is in a great position during the tournament, you don’t mind taking 2-3 games off also. It all depends on how you feel physically but everyone has to be really honest about it to themselves and accordingly see how they feel and not push themselves to the limit that might hamper the Indian team later on,” Kohli had said.

With not much time between the two much-awaited tournaments, here is hoping for the Indian players to remain fit and in-form in the most looked forward to three and a half months of 2019.

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who is currently into his fifth year as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. His first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.