IND vs NZ: Head coach Rahul Dravid responds to query on ‘workload management’ relating to senior cricketers; denies split-captaincy rumours

Team India head coach Rahul Dravid responded to a query on the ‘workload management’ of senior players in the squad during the pre-match press conference ahead of the third ODI between India and New Zealand. The Men in Blue will lock horns with the visitors one final time in the 50-over format in Indore before shifting focus onto the T20I series to start from Friday, January 27.

After clinching the three-match ODI series 2-0, coach Dravid was asked about the workload management of seniors like Virat Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma. The head coach responded to the same and also spoke about the IPL and how the national side’s medical team is in ‘constant’ touch with the franchises.  

“We keep reviewing these things. You will call the break we have given to some of our boys (Rohit, Virat, KL Rahul) in the T20 series as workload management. Injury management and workload management are two different things, we have to keep balancing the two based on what the priority is for us in the short-term considering the amount of cricket we play and ensuring that we have our big players available for us in the big tournaments,” told Dravid.

“In terms of the IPL, the NCA and our medical team is constantly in touch with the franchises, and if there are any issues or injuries we connect with them. Unless the players are injured or there are other concerns then of course I think the BCCI has the right to pull them out,” he added. 

Dravid denies opting for split captaincy

Multiple reports have claimed that the management is opting for a split captaincy across the formats and could follow the English template going forward. It was also claimed that the senior players such as Kohli, Rohit, and Ravichandran Ashwin could be shown the exit doors from the shortest format in order to build a new side. 

However, head coach Dravid outright denied the idea of adopting split captaincy for the national side in the pre-match presser. 

"Not that I am aware of. That's a question you need to ask the selectors but as of now, I don't think so," Dravid added.