'Is India playing too much International cricket?' - Aakash Chopra raises concern over team's busy schedule

With Rohit Sharma getting ruled out of the ODI and Test series against New Zealand, the list of the country’s frontline players getting injured only got longer. Rohit was captaining India in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli in the fifth and final T20I against the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui when he hurt his calf muscle while taking a quick run. Rohit could not continue for long and missed the remaining part of the match, leaving the leadership to wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul.

Rohit’s absence is a major blow to the visitors in both the formats for he made a phenomenal comeback to Test cricket at home in recent times. In the ODIs, the 32-year-old batsman is always a match-winner. Rohit’s absence means India would have to try a fresh pair of openers in the ODIs since his long-time partner Shikhar Dhawan was also ruled out recently after he got injured while fielding against Australia in Bengaluru.

Besides the two top batsmen, players like Hardik Pandya, Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have also been out of the national side in recent times because of injuries. Even ace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah missed international cricket for some months after playing in the West Indies last year.

Former Test opener Aakash Chopra raised concern over the Indian players’ frequent injuries and asked whether the national team was playing too much of international cricket.

India’s five key players injured in the past 8-10 months

In a tweet, the 42-year-old said: “Pandya, Bhuvi, Chahar, Bumrah and Rohit….five of India’s KEY players have been injured in the last 8-10months. (Not counting Dhawan because of the freak nature of his injuries) Reasonably serious and workload related injuries. Is India playing too much International cricket?”

Also, India’s spearhead in Tests Ishant Sharma has been sidelined due to injuries. Frontline players like Kohli and Rahul also addressed the issue before and after the T20I series in New Zealand that India won 5-0.

India will be playing three ODIs and two Tests against New Zealand before meeting South Africa over a three-match ODI series at home. Thereafter, the players will be busy with the Indian Premier League spanning over two months.