Reports | Franchises unlikely to entertain request to rest Indian fast bowlers in IPL

Indian skipper Virat Kohli had put forth an idea before the Supreme Court appointed Committee of Administrators(CoA) to conserve the Indian pace battery for the upcoming Cricket World Cup by resting them for the next season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) which is scheduled to conclude fifteen days before the Cricket World Cup begins. The idea was put forth in the performance review meeting that held prior to India's second Test match against the visiting Windies side in Hyderabad earlier last month. But the idea is unlikely to find any favour with the franchises who will be at the receiving end of the decision.

"The IPL is starting on March 29 and will finish on May 19. In any case, there will be a 15-day gap before India play their first World Cup game against South Africa on June 5. So there is no chance that pacers can be rested for the entire duration of the IPL," a senior official, who was present in the meeting, said on Thursday.

"It has been a convention for the past few years that IPL trainers and physios work with the Indian team's support staff on workload management. That will be followed next year as well and in any case fast bowlers don't play all the games," the official said.

The meeting was also attended by India’s current stand-in captain and limited overs side Vice-captain Rohit Sharma and Test format vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. Rohit Sharma, at the meeting, seemed to be worried that at the business end of the IPL tournament as the captain of the Mumbai Indians team it may be tough for him to resist not to play his lead bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

“If Mumbai Indians reach playoffs or finals and if Bumrah happens to be fit, then I cannot afford to rest him," the official quoted Rohit as saying.

The Indian skipper Kohli wants his two premier bowlers to be fit and fine to play the World Cup which will be held in England and Wales form may 30th next year. But the official privy to the happening thinks that the rest may prove to be counterproductive for the bowlers.

"The question is more about Bhuvi and Bumrah as (Mohammed) Shami, Umesh (Yadav) and Khaleel (Ahmed) are not automatic choices for their franchises and may not play all IPL games (minimum 14).

"Virat wants his two premier fast bowlers to be rested for the IPL but it could well be counter-productive as they will be out of match practice for two months before the World Cup," he further said.