Ravi Shastri concerned about players’ fitness during IPL: The Indian coach opened up on workload management during IPL 2019.
While a full season of the Indian Premier League just before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 sounds like a dream-come-true sequence for cricket fans, the same also has it in it to take a toll on the players who will be featuring in both the showpiece events.
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Given how testing the schedules are at the highest level, players (especially fast bowlers) will have to make sure that they don’t succumb to injuries during the cash-rich leagues. Former India captain and current wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni had recently assured that bowling four overs won’t make bowlers tired, one really hopes his words come true as far as the Indian bowlers are concerned in IPL 2019.
In a recent interview with Cricbuzz, India Head Coach Ravi Shastri also talked about the Indian fast bowlers and their recent success. While Shastri hailed their current rhythm, he was also aware to admit that a grueling season of the IPL can have ramifications on the fast bowlers, chiefly with taking the World Cup into contention.
“They have been in excellent rhythm so far. During the IPL, we will try and speak to the franchises and their captains. We want to make sure that they play only an optimal number of matches without affecting their fitness or form for the World Cup. We will seek proper rest for them, so they are in absolute readiness for the World Cup,” Shastri was quoted as saying.
Referring to a potential 10-day gap between the IPL and the World Cup, Shastri hoped of the players sorting out their niggles (if any) but still laid emphasis on the players’ fitness during the T20 tournament.
“Even after IPL we have 10 days, so we will take care of certain aspects and work from there. But during the IPL it is extremely important that they work on their physical fitness and on their skills,” Shastri added.
Mentioning that the Indian team management will talk to the franchises regarding the workload of players, Shastri also admitted that he won’t be able to interfere much. “We will be talking to all our players and franchises about their workloads. Even though we cannot interfere too much, we definitely will be talking to players to maintain their optimal performance state,” he concluded.
