Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper, Rohit Sharma will be expected to pick and choose the matches he plays in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) to manage his workload ahead of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia in June and the ICC World Cup in October-November, according to a report. Star batter Suryakumar Yadav is expected to take over the MI captaincy in Rohit’s absence.
Rohit had suggested that the regulars of the Indian team will need to take a break between IPL matches to keep themselves fresh and fit. The Indian skipper is now going to lead by example and according to a report in The Indian Express, although he may not appear in all the IPL matches this year, he will continue to be with the team and give his inputs to stand-in skipper Suryakumar.
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During a chat with the reporters after the Australia series, Rohit Sharma said, “It is all up to the franchises now. The franchises own them now. We have given some indications to the teams, but at the end of the day, it is up to the franchise, and most importantly, the players. They have to take care of their own bodies. They are all adults. If they feel that it is getting a little too much they can always talk about it and have a break in one or two games.”
India are already faced with injuries to two of the important members of the side – Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah. Shreyas Iyer’s back issue worsened during the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia and barred him from any further participation in the match.
Star pacer Bumrah, on the other hand, has been missing competitive cricket since September 2022, also with a back issue. He has, however, undergone surgery in New Zealand and is understood to be recovering well. The BCCI has, in this regard, clarified that Bumrah’s fullest recovery and prolonging his career are its top priority and the fast bowler will not be rushed into action just yet.
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Jasprit Bumrah is a proven match-winner whose presence will be critical if India is aiming to win the ICC World Cup for the third time. Under this situation, therefore, India can’t afford another injury crisis, and Rohit, who has had injury issues in the past, doesn’t want to risk putting his body through the grind by playing every match of the IPL. The T20 competition has always been taxing for the players and involves a lot of traveling across the country and so workload management will be crucial.
