Responsibility the executives' is the trendy expression for India's players heading into another IPL season, particularly with the World Test Title last to trail not too far behind...
"Well, it's everything up to the establishments now," a disheartened Rohit Sharma had said after India were pulsated in the third ODI by Australia in Chennai and lost the series 1-2. Rohit responded to a question about how certain players manage their workloads and how the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, which is in the same year as the ODI World Cup, could affect things because it is so close to the IPL's final stages.
The WTC last is at the Oval from June 7. The IPL comes to an end on May 28. The short turnaround time has also alarmed head coach Rahul Dravid.
The captain went on to say that IPL teams have been given guidelines for monitoring player workloads from the team management. In any case, the grin that followed and the anxiety in his tone would have rapidly settled any questions about whether the establishments will stick to those solicitations.
As captain of India and the Mumbai Indians, Rohit is best positioned to comment. Notwithstanding MI being out of the end of the season games race early last year, Rohit, and the MI group the board, decided to continue to play Jasprit Bumrah in each game, but irrelevant it could have appeared. Did that result in the star pacer suffering a serious back injury three months later?
Since September, Bumrah has not participated in a game against other teams. It remains to be seen whether Bumrah will regain competitive match fitness for the 50-over World Cup after having back surgery in New Zealand. Rohit's reaction in Chennai was matter of reality, yet additionally obviously dubious. " The establishments own the players currently, so we've given a few signs, or marginal sort of thing, to the groups. However, the franchise and, more importantly, the players are ultimately in charge. They must take care of themselves."
Additionally, Rohit emphasized that each player is an "adult." They can always talk about it and take a break between games if they think it's getting too much. That doesn't seem likely, "he had added.
India will need to be careful that their two other key pacers, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, who will play in the IPL for champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and three-time finalists Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), remain fresh and injury-free after losing Bumrah for the WTC final already.
Both enjoyed their tours of England in 2021, taking advantage of the conditions and additional movement provided by the Dukes ball.
Rohit had stated in one of his interactions with the media that six teams would be eliminated from contention for the playoffs by May 21. He will hope that Titans and RCB are two of those six teams for the sake of India, Siraj, and Shami.
Ho jaaye phirse, Shami bhai? First game, first ball, first wicket 🙌🤩#AavaDe | @MdShami11 https://t.co/OTGup31i8n
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) 1680098625000
Inquired as to whether any command to rest players and screen responsibilities had been given by the group or BCCI, an establishment official told TOI, "We haven't gotten any guidelines from the BCCI yet."
"Let me find out what has been told and get back," said another support staff member who was also a former India player.
It is perceived that except if a player is conveying a physical issue, no headings will be given to establishments as the Public Cricket Institute (NCA) staff has proactively shared nitty gritty responsibility plans.
Head coach Gary Kirsten blamed IPL fatigue for India's exit from the 2009 T20 World Cup in England, which followed a frantic IPL that was moved to South Africa.
Kirsten had stated, "Fatigue was definitely a factor, as were many other things." Although it was a factor, I don't want to use that as an excuse. We were not an enthusiastic group. On this tour, we were not able to reach the same level. We may have to withdraw players from some IPL games. "I don't know how well that will go down," he quickly added.
After that, the board immediately silenced him, and the then-chairman of the BCCI media and finance committee, Rajeev Shukla, even provided a response. Shukla had stated, "We are not compelled any player to participate in any series or tournament."
2009 was then. It is now 2023. There have been few changes.