'We Need them, India Need them' - Ravi Shastri Asks BCCI Tough Questions


image-lfl0mj8lIND vs AUS: Jasprit Bumrah last played India in September 2022

Former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri urges the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to horn in on the issue of the players' workload management during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

With many of India's cricketers currently injured and the ODI World Cup starting in less than seven months, Shastri thinks that it's time the BCCI crack the whip on players' fitness.

For the unknown, Shreyas Iyer is said to be suffering from recurring lower-back injury and could miss out on a major chunk of action. Jasprit Bumrah is also doubtful for the 2023 World Cup as he recently underwent a back surgery.

"I find it hard to imagine (increase in injuries). You look at era we played in, the facilities that were available at that time. You found players playing 8-10 years easily. Lot of them would play 8-10 months of the year. I really don't know.. probably the volume of cricket has increased, no questions about that. There are different leagues around the world. The rest period is decreasing," Shastri said as quoted in an interview with Sports Yaari.

"The establishment and players will have to sit across the table. You need that much cricket and you need to give certain break. Even if it happens to be IPL. Board has to take the stand there, tell the franchises, 'listen, we need them. India need them. For India's sake, if he doesn't play those games, it will be good," he added.

Notably, after losing the ODI series to Australia, India captain Rohit Sharma raised his doubts on whether any Indian player will opt out of IPL 2023. 

The 16th edition of India's premier domestic tournament starts on March 31 with the clash between Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans.