From IPL to World Cup: Just how tired will Indian cricketers be?

MUMBAI: "Some of us don't want to see a cricket bat for a few days," a member of the Indian group had confessed simply before the 1992 World Cup. Considering that Mohammad Azharuddin and Co. had simply come via a gruelling tour of Australia, where they might performed five Tests and a long-winding ODI tri-series, the player's remark was once understandable.

ICC World Cup 2019 Schedule

In 2019, you could worry an identical noises could also be coming from the Indian camp. The players are gearing up for the World Cup after participating in every other rigorous edition of the IPL. That way they've performed 14 to 17 video games over the past month and a part, which involved non-stop 'Bharat darshan'.

The symbol of a Mahendra Singh Dhoni napping at the airport front room while travelling along with his Chennai Super Kings teammates tells the tale. Battle-weary cricketers are slightly in a position to catch a wink or two given their unforgiving time table within the IPL.

More than bodily fatigue, players have a tendency to tire mentally. No marvel some cricketers, who even have necessary sponsor commitments before they board the flight to England, appear jaded. Ironically, exactly a decade back, it was once in England itself that the challenges of the IPL have been first exposed. In the summer of 2009, MS Dhoni and Co, having a look weary after IPL-2 in South Africa, failed to protect their World T20 crown in sorry style, crashing out within the Super eight degree.

While India have carried out better in big tournaments put up the IPL since then, winning the Champions Trophy in 2013 and attaining the general of CT in 2017, issues over Indian players' workload this time round are genuine. Despite the BCCI's assurances to the media that it was once in talks with franchisees over India's World Cup-bound players' workloads, there was once little proof of this happening in IPL-12. Even the quick bowlers, who're the most susceptible to picking up accidents, weren't spared the grind.

"It'll be a completely different format. The bowlers will need to bowl 10 overs, and not four. They'll have to adapt to the ODI format quickly. They'll need to change their mindset from T20 to the ODI format. They have to get into the ODI mode," stated former India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar at the World Cup. To make issues more challenging, the format this time is similar to that of the 1992 World Cup - all 10 groups taking part in each other within the league degree, followed by the semis and the general. To win the Cup, a group should persistently do smartly over 13 video games, a task that requires one to be mentally and bodily fit and grew to become on at all times.

However, a key member of Indian cricket's set-up rubbished issues that fatigue may affect the group's chances, particularly as their first game is simplest on June five against South Africa at Southampton - almost 24 days after the IPL final on May 12.

"There's enough gap between the IPL and the World Cup. As a cricketer, it helps if you keep playing, rather than look to perform straightaway after returning from a break," he stated, before assuring that the group management has zero health issues at the present time.

"All our players are skilled, fit and taking part in smartly. We did not cause them to adopt the yo-yo assessments this time as a result of they've simply performed within the IPL. At the instant, Kedar Jadhav (who was once injured while taking part in for the Chennai Super Kings and dominated out of the playoffs) too seems to be improving smartly at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). He's already begun training.

"Some of the players whose groups have been knocked out before the playoffs have got a couple of days of extra rest. Since their better halves are allowed for a 21-day window, there are not any worries at the factor of homesickness," he stated.

Those who have been part of this set-up, and have observed the players from close quarters, are assured the group shall be recent for the large one. "I do not believe the Indian players will be afflicted by burnout. Ab woh zamana chala gaya (that point is long past). Now, they are all fit. They get best physios and trainers in both IPL and the Indian group," stated former India wicketkeeper and leader selector Kiran More.

As the Mumbai Indians' wicketkeeping trainer, More has a good concept of ways groups help players recover from game fatigue and jet lag due to non-stop shuttling across towns. "We raise two physios, running shoes, masseurs and medical doctors, and they are busy with the group until 2am within the night. So, the players are managed smartly," he assured.

Thanks to the IPL, unlike England and Australia, India did not also have a pre-World Cup camp. More, even though, feels that during modern-day sport, preparatory camps are a rather old-fashioned thought. "Earlier, the camps have been supposed for cricketers to paintings primarily on their health. Nowadays, the cricketers are fit sufficient. All the IPL franchises arrange cricketers professionally. Two weeks is sufficient time to gel as a group."

Perhaps India will lack the merit that Pakistan, already in England for an ODI collection against the hosts, and the West Indies - taking part in in Ireland - are enjoying. In that context, the practice video games against New Zealand and Bangladesh is of important importance.

"It's good that India are going early to England and taking part in a couple of practice video games. 15 days is sufficient to recover from the IPL and gel as a group," stated veteran wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

Will players raise their good/unhealthy shape within the IPL to the World Cup too? "We're satisfied that 80% of the Indian group is in shape," said chief selector MSK Prasad. "The fact that they are coming from so many drive eventualities and nail-biting finishes is a great factor." More added: "Good shape within the IPL does subject." The sole fear in that respect is chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who was once dropped by KKR for poor shape.