The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, embarks on an extensive journey in the 2023 World Cup, traveling across India to play their round-robin matches. They are the only team not playing multiple games at a single venue, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is taking measures to minimize travel fatigue and burnout due to the demanding schedule.
To ensure the team’s well-being, the BCCI has arranged private charters and scheduled flights for the Men in Blue to depart only after lunch on the day following a match. This strategy aims to provide rest and comfort to the players.
A BCCI official explained, “The team is flying on private charters. It’s a long World Cup, and keeping the travel schedule in mind, we have ensured to have only charters. The timings of the flights also have been cautiously kept around the lunchtime after the match.”
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For locations with challenging travel, such as Guwahati or Dharamsala, private charters are utilized, but most flights are direct. Shubman Gill, recovering from dengue, was an exception, taking a commercial evening flight to Ahmedabad from Chennai, while his teammates flew as usual on the afternoon of the following day for their match against Afghanistan.
In the lead-up to their matches, there has been limited attendance in the nets the day before the fixtures. However, two days before the game, the practice sessions have drawn a full house. On the eve of the matches, which have a short gap in between, the players take it easy.
🏆 Team India’s #WorldCup2023 strategy is all about managing travel and workload smartly
✈️ Private charters
🧐Smart scheduling
🏏Strategic net sessions✍️writes our own roving 🧳 reporter @Sahil_Malhotra1 https://t.co/Ilgzv7fNWK
— News18 CricketNext (@cricketnext) October 18, 2023
An official from the BCCI stated, “The eve of the match is mostly an optional session, so the team tends to take it easy on that day. Rest, all sessions are conducted with the advice of the medical team. The workload of every individual is taken into account before those sessions. So again, that depends on individual to individual and how their body feels on a given day.”
The BCCI is not only implementing this travel strategy for Team India but also for other participating teams. Considering the extensive travel schedule, private charters are arranged for all teams. The BCCI took responsibility for organizing the travel once the teams arrived at their warm-up venues.
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The official explained, “It’s not just the Indian team; we are arranging private charters for other teams too. It was ICC’s responsibility to get the team to their warm-up venue – say Guwahati or Hyderabad or wherever. From there on, we took charge and ensured seamless travel for other teams as well.”
As Team India continues its journey in the World Cup, staying fresh and well-rested will be vital, especially if they make it to the semi-finals. The BCCI’s travel strategy aims to keep the Indian cricket team in optimal condition throughout the tournament.
