While the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is just more than seven months to go, the Indian team management can allow the rest for the national cricketers from the upcoming international cricket matches to stay fit in the World Cup.
According to a recent Times of India article, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and other players can be rested according to the situations. With this rotation policy, the team management will try to keep the best combination available for the 2019 World Cup.
A BCCI source told TOI, “Virat could be rested again if need be to ensure he is fit for the World Cup. It is a rotation policy which the team has initiated to keep the best combination for the World Cup in June 2019.”
Skipper Virat Kohli, who is dealing with a back problem, was recently rested in the Asia Cup 2018 tournament where India won the crown under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. In the ongoing home Test series against Windies, the Indian front-line pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been rested.
According to the FTP schedule, India still has to play 38 international matches before the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England. Among these matches, India will have to play six Tests, 21 ODIs and 11 T20Is.
Indian cricket team’s remaining international fixtures before the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup (as on October 8, 2018)
(Windies tour of India)
Two-match Test series (left one Test): 12–16 October 2018 at Hyderabad
Five-match ODI series: 21 October – 1 November 2018
Three-match T20I series: 4 November – 11 November 2018
(India tour of Australia)
Three-match T20I series: 21 November – 25 November 2018
Four-match T20I series: 6 December 2018 – 7 January 2019
Three-match ODI series: 12 January – 18 January 2019
(India tour of New Zealand)
Five-match ODI series: 23 January – 3 February 2019
Three-match T20I series: 6 February – 10 February 2019
(Australia tour of India)
Five-match ODI series: 24 February – 8 March 2019
Two-match T20I series: 10 March – 13 March 2019
(Zimbabwe tour of India)
One-off Test: Yet to be scheduled (expected to be played in March 2019)
Three-match ODI series: Yet to be scheduled (expected to be played in March 2019)
