IPL 2019 | Virat Kohli hints at skipping few matches to stay fit for ensuing World Cup
Virat Kohli has revealed that he might sit out for a few matches in the IPL in order to avoid wear and tear before heading into the World Cup. He has also dished out advice to his Indian teammates, asking them to stay in touch with the physiotherapist and smartly manage their workload.
The Indian Premier League is scheduled to start from today as Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Chennai Super Kings in the latter's own den. However, many fans are worried about the players workload and injuries in the nearly two-month-long IPL, scheduled right before the World Cup beginning from May 30 in England and Wales.
Virat Kohli had earlier put the onus on players to manage their own workload. On the eve of the first match of the season, the Indian skipper was asked if he is willing to miss a few matches this season in order to avoid fatigue, to which he replied, "Yes. That's a big possibility. Why not?," reported PTI.
"It's a personal responsibility. It is up to the players to give information on any niggle to the concerned people as soon as possible and work as per plan. We have told the players to be smart about how they feel on a particular day and then reporting to the physios. If he's told not to play, then he has to respect that," he added.
The RCB skipper was also asked if the IPL will take a toll on the players and affect their balance, the RCB skipper stated that he wants his players to be careful about their workload.
"At the end of the day, I am very motivated to start tomorrow personally.. I don't know how competitive or how relaxed Indian players are going to be during the IPL. Every professional knows how to maintain a balance. Eventually, you are playing for a franchise and they have trusted you to do a job for them,” he said.
It is a known fact that the top-ranked ODI batsman gives his best every time he steps onto the field and his records speak enough for him.
"Till the time you play, you have to give 120 per cent. When you don't play, you don't. I don't believe in playing 75-80 per cent. That's the mindset I carry. I am sure the guys are going to be smart about it. They are going to choose wisely through the tournament. It is not forced on them. They said we are going to be careful," the 30-year-old stated.
The RCB line-up has quite a few uncapped players in their
"Not many people are aware of the strengths of some of the Indian guys we possess in our team. And that's one area we want to focus on. In the past, the focus was always been on getting strong overseas players. This time around, guys from the domestic circuit are really confident. Tomorrow you will see the kind of bowling options and depth we carry." Kohli asserted.
Kohli revealed that he does not believe in rivalries in T20 cricket, but he did not fail to acknowledge the fact that his team had lost all the six matches that they have played against CSK since 2014.
"I don't believe in head to head and rivalries. In T20 it is anyone's game really. Some teams we have done really well against. Some teams like CSK we haven't won in the last six games," the skipper said.
"It is no like you focus only on playing those teams and not focus on teams you have lost against. The opposition this year doesn't matter for us. It is the vision we have
RCB will start their campaign in the cash-rich league by taking on CSK at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on March 23. The quadrennial event will follow next, starting from May 30, where India will play their first warm-up fixture against New Zealand on May 25.
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