Rahul Dravid opens up on Indian players' participation in IPL 2023: 'It is a very big tournament for BCCI'

Indian cricketers who are in the scheme of things for the ODI World Cup will compete in the IPL unless there are injury concerns and workload of seniors like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is being managed as one white-ball format takes precedence over the other, said head coach Rahul Dravid on Monday.

According to BCCI’s new policy, the workloads of key players will be monitored during this year’s IPL by the NCA and the franchisees considering the 50-over World Cup at home in October-November.

“Workload management is something that is a part and parcel of the game today.

“We keep reviewing these things. You will call the break we have given to some of our boys (Rohit, Virat, KL) in the T20 series as workload management,” Dravid answered a query from PTI during a media conference ahead of the 3rd ODI against New Zealand.

“Injury management and workload management are two different things, we have to keep balancing the two based on what the priority is for us in the short term considering the amount of cricket we play and ensuring that we have our big players available for us in the big tournaments.” He added that "targeted" players for the ODI World Cup will be playing the IPL as it will help them assess their T20 skills.

“In terms of the IPL, the NCA and our medical team are constantly in touch with the franchises, and if there are any issues or injuries we connect with them. Unless the players are injured or there are other concerns then of course I think the BCCI has the right to pull them out.

“But if they are fit we do release them for the IPL because it’s an important tournament. It is a very big tournament for the BCCI, in terms of our preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup as well. It is important as it helps us assist the performances of our players in the specific T20 format." After going through an extended lean patch, Kohli returned to form in last year’s Asia Cup and continued his good run at the T20 World Cup as well but the batting maestro, skipper Rohit, and KL Rahul have not featured in a single T20 game since the marquee event in Australia.

The trio is set to miss the T20 series against New Zealand starting next week. But Dravid feels the break is needed before the two-week camp ahead of the all-important Test series against Australia starting next month.

“You need to play certain white-ball tournaments in certain stages of time. Playing the four matches of the Border Gavaskar for a potential WTC qualification is important.

“There were some white ball tournaments we had to prioritise and after T20 WC. Virat has played all six games (ODIs). He will get some break along with Rohit and some of the other guys and then come back refreshed on the 2nd February for a two-weeks camp ahead of Tests.” 

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