‘Don’t play IPL if you want to win World Cup’ - Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach advises Indian cricketers

With almost a decade without an ICC trophy, there’s a sense of frustration in the air among Indian cricket fans. Even though the Indian Premier League is seen as one of the most premier tournaments in the country, a lot of experts in the recent past have criticised players for playing the tournament and missing games for the national team.

Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach Dinesh Lad becomes the latest addition to the list as he heavily criticised players for prioritising IPL over the Indian team.

While speaking about the issue, the veteran coach called out the players for missing international matches to manage their workload. He believes that it is the reason why there’s no stability in the set-up and also why the Men in Blue fail to win any major trophy.

“I thought, maybe, in the last seven-eight months, we are not a stable team. If we are preparing for the World Cup, it should be an established team. In the last seven months, somebody is coming to open the innings, somebody is coming to bowl, there is no stability,” said Dinesh Lad while speaking to Sportskeeda.

“I don’t think so (on workload management as a potential reason). Everybody in the world is playing because they are professionals, not a workload you can say. Why are they playing in the IPL? Don’t play the IPL if you want to win the World Cup. In actual professional grades, they should play every game (at the international level) because we are getting something from that. It’s not an honorary job and there should be no compromise in international cricket,” Lad added.

Your international performance helps you determine your salary cap: Lad

Dinesh Lad doesn't want the players to drop their IPL contracts. However, in the interview, he reminded the importance of international cricket and how it helps the cricketers in the IPL.

“How can I say this (whether players should drop their IPL contracts)? They will have to take a call on that. Because you have been playing for India and for your states continuously that’s why you are considered for the IPL. Your international performance helps you determine your salary cap (in the IPL). So directly you don’t get an entry into the IPL,” he said.