India captain Rohit Sharma said on Monday that Indian players, whose IPL teams will not make it to the T20 League playoffs, can meet in London for a two-week conditioning camp ahead of the World Championship final. of Tests against Australia. The WTC final is played in June, right after the IPL and this year, the final is on May 29, while the WTC will kick off on June 7 at the Oval. With IPL returning to its original home-away model for the first time since the post-COVID-19 outbreak, there will be a lot of travel involved and among all the current India Test regulars, only Cheteshwar Pujara is not part of the IPL.
“It’s quite critical for us. We will keep in constant contact with all the players who are going to play that final and we will monitor their workload and see what is happening with them,” Sharma responded to a PTI query at a press conference afterwards. . India won the series against Australia 2-1.
“Around May 21, there will be six teams possibly out of contention for the IPL play-offs and so whatever players become available, we will try to find time to get them to the UK as soon as possible. and have some time and we will monitor as much as possible”, the skipper gave a preview of his plans for the grand final.
The three frontline pacemakers Mohammed Siraj (RCB), Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans), Umesh Yadav (KKR) are expected to be first-team regulars for their respective franchises and play at least 12 of the 14 league games of group and their workload will be monitored. be important.
“We’re actually sending out some (red) Duke Balls to all the fast bowlers and whether they have time to play with that, but again, it’s all up to the people,” Rohit said.
In England, the tests are played with Duke balls, unlike the SG tests in India and the Kookaburra in Australia.
It remains to be seen how long a Shami, an Umesh or a Siraj can find out from their travels, matches and their busy schedule.
But England is not a strange place for most of the Test team as they all played several series there and some of them also played county cricket.
“The guys who will be part of the finals are not the ones who haven’t played in the UK. There may be one or two guys here and there and rest, all of us have played in that part of the world. I don’t think it will be a big problem.” .
“Look, I think preparation will be key for us when the final comes around.”
While both teams have played plenty of cricket in England, the neutral venue will make it a completely different proposition for either side.
“Speaking of playing them (Australia) in the final, it will be a different ball game with a neutral venue for both teams.” “Both teams have played a lot of cricket in that part of the world and I won’t say it’s going to be alien conditions for both teams, but yes, compared to what it’s like to play India in India or Australia in Australia, it’s not going to. If so, it would be a bit different from what I’m sure both teams will prepare for it,” said the captain.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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