'India needs them' - Ravi Shastri urges BCCI to take stand on Indian players’ workload management ahead of IPL 2023

Following the defeat in the two-match ODI series, the Indian players will return to action in the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The 2023 IPL will kick-off on March 31, with Gujarat Titans hosting Chennai Super Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After the two-month-long tournament, team India will lock horns with Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final starting on June 7 at The Oval.

Earlier, India skipper Rohit Sharma spoke about the workload management ahead of the IPL. Now, former India head coach Ravi Shastri also came up with his thoughts on the need for workload management. He insisted that the amount of cricketing action has increased, so the players are not getting a break. 

“I find it hard to imagine (increase in injuries). You look at era we played in, the facilities that were available at that time. You found players playing 8-10 years easily. Lot of them would play 8-10 months of the year. I really don't know... probably the volume of cricket has increased, no questions about that. There are different leagues around the world. The rest period is decreasing,” Shastri told Sports Yaari.

The cricketer-turned-commentator further said that the players and the board needs to be transparent in their communications regarding workload management. The 60-year-old said the board is responsible for giving the players a break if a lot of cricket is being played. He also wanted the BCCI to take a stand and tell the franchises that ‘India needs them.’

“The establishment and players will have to sit across the table. 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 need them. For India's sake, if he doesn't play those games, it will be good',” Shastri added.

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