There has been a new row of late where the injuries of the Indian players have been put under a scanner. Particularly with the rising number of injuries where Shreyas Iyer and Jasprit Bumrah are out of contention at least for the foreseeable future and are still in doubt over their availability for the World Cup.
Rohit Sharma and Ravi Shastri made huge statements ahead of the upcoming extravaganza stating that the IPL franchises will have to find a way out in order to manage their workload. However, in a hard-hitting counterblast, IPL chairman, Arun Dhumal said that the players should very well be aware of the fact that what is the kind of workload that is expected of them.
Here is what Rohit Sharma had to say about the fitness issues of the franchises
On the eve of Mumbai Indians’ first game, Rohit Sharma said, “It’s all up to the franchises now. Franchises own them. We have given indications, some kind of borderline thing to teams, but at the end of the day, it’s up to the franchise. I doubt that will happen, though.”
Shastri said on a podcast last month, “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 needs them. For India’s sake, if he doesn’t play those games, it will be good.”
This is what Arun Dhumal’s riposte comprised
In an interview with the Indian Express, Arun Dhumal had something else to say, adding, “The problem in our country is that whosoever makes money, be it a company or individual, he is seen with suspicion. Virat Kohli has been playing IPL for so many years, he’s never been injured. Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami never got injured. Does it have anything to do with the IPL?” He also shed some light about Shreyas Iyer’s recent injury, stating, “Shreyas Iyer got injured but not because of the IPL. Just because they make money through IPL, we start blaming IPL for anything and everything. Injuries are an integral part of any sport. Our badminton stars are getting injured. They don’t play in the IPL. There are so many stars who are coming from overseas and playing in the IPL.”