IPL will help players maintain rhythm before World Cup, opines VVS Laxman
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VVS Laxman is of the opinion that playing the IPL right before the ICC Cricket World Cup will benefit the players as it will help them carry on with their rhythm. Laxman also added that IPL will not take a toll on the players as they are professionals and will manage their fatigue levels well.
With the Indian Premier League starting today, workload management of the players in line for the upcoming World Cup is undoubtedly the most debated topic in Indian cricket right now and Sunrisers Hyderabad
"I think all of them are professional players and playing a tournament like the IPL will help them to be in good rhythm when they go to the World Cup," Laxman said, reported PTI.
The IPL is a nearly a two-month-long tournament in which 56 matches will be played in the league stages and it also involves a lot of travelling as the matches are played across various venues in India. The Padma Shri awardee also said that the IPL will work to the players’ advantage as they will face tough and quality opposition.
"But they (the players) have to be very sensible and smart. The workload management, as it is, is a focus of the franchise because it's a long tournament where there is a lot of travel," the SRH mentor said.
"World Cup is something which we all are looking forward to and we want the Indian team to go out there and win the World Cup. I am sure all the players will be smart enough. Playing the IPL will be an advantage as they play against top quality opposition. You are playing with some quality players."
Australian southpaw David Warner, along with Steve Smith will make a return, after being banned for one year for their involvement in the ball tampering scandal of 2018 that shook Australian cricket. The Sunrisers’ mentor is upbeat to have Warner back in his side and is confident of him performing exceptionally well. Warner was instrumental in the Orange Army’s victory in 2016, where he was the highest run-getter with 848 runs. He will be hungry for runs as the IPL is the only major tournament before the World Cup, and he will be looking to secure his spot in the Australian squad.
"David Warner is really looking positive going into this season. It was unfortunate what happened at Cape Town last year and I am sure he is looking forward to contributing to Sunrisers," Laxman explained.
"He has been an exceptional player for us, exceptional captain as well, a premier batsman for us and I am sure he will look forward to scoring heavily this season as well and win matches, and hopefully, the tournament for Sunrisers."
India wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha will also make his return after a long layoff, owing to a surgery on his right shoulder. Saha had broken his finger before SRH’s second qualifier in the last year’s IPL but still went on to score 35 runs in that match.
"It was great to see Saha back. He has really worked hard on his fitness and he too showed good rhythm in the practice matches, coming with good performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali," stated the 44-year-old.
"I was impressed with the way Saha played with a broken finger that is the character Saha has and that is the character we encourage in the Sunrisers team because you want players who are committed to the team, to the game, and Saha is
