IPL 2023: BCCI orders IPL franchises to use Indian players with caution during IPL 2023: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has ordered the IPL franchises to use Indian players with utmost caution during the entire IPL 2023 in wake of regular injuries to the cricketers. The cricket board has asked the respective management to not overuse the players as they could get fatigued and burned out.
The message was issued to all the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises over a zoom meeting held recently by National Cricket Academy (NCA) physiotherapist Nitin Patel, who was joined by Soham Desai, team India’s strength and conditioning coach.
With two marquee events lined up ahead (ICC World Test Championship Final and ICC Cricket World Cup 2023), the BCCI doesn’t want any more injury concerns amongst the centrally contracted players. The Indian cricket board reckons excessive use of players during the IPL 2023 could result in them being vulnerable to niggles and injuries.
“Franchises have been told that the Indian team bowlers should be especially used with caution,” said a BCCI official. “IPL teams should not over-bowl them in the nets. They can focus more on strengthening and training. Players can do fielding drills but till the first week of May, franchises shouldn’t push them.”
Interestingly, the BCCI has shortlisted 20 potential players to form the Indian squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, which will be held in India later this year.
“After May first week, those players who are in contention can slowly increase their bowling time in the nets. The BCCI will get in touch with all franchises again,” the official added.
Specifically, the BCCI and NCA are keen to have a watch on pacers and spinners. The likes of Mohammad Siraj (RCB), Mohammed Shami (GT), Shardul Thakur & Umesh Yadav (KKR), Deepak Chahar (CSK), Kuldeep Yadav & Aar Patel (DC), R Ashwin & Yuzvendra Chahal (RR), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Washington Sundar & Umran Malik (SRH) are under the watchful eyes of the NCA and BCCI.
Jay Shah, BCCI secretary, in January during a review meeting, said that the NCA will work in cooperation with the IPL franchises to monitor the workload of the players. The crucial decision came after noticing the frequent injuries to the players amid the tight scheduling of the tours.
It’s worth noting that Indian captain Rohit Sharma, after the conclusion of Australia’s tour of India, had said that although the BCCI has provided necessary instructions to the teams, it’s up to the franchises on how they want to use the players.
“It’s all up to the franchises now. They own them now. We have given some indications to the teams, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the franchises. And more importantly, it’s up to the players. They are all adults; they have to look after their bodies. If they feel it’s getting a bit too much, they can talk about it and take a break in one or two games. I doubt if that will happen, but,” Rohit said after India went down in the series decider to Australia in Chennai.
To know more head to BCCI’s official website.
