“See, our team’s physios and the physios of BCCI NCA and the Indian team, there was a discussion among them. I don’t get involved in that at all. That’s their department. My department is how’s the player’s mindset, does the player want to play or not, how big is the risk,” Rahane said after KKR’s last league match, which they lost to the Delhi Capitals.
RR skipper Riyan Parag also revealed that he is “definitely not fit” after the win over Mumbai Indians. He not only played that game but also played the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. Parag is on the BCCI’s targetted players list and will be the deputy to India A captain Tilak Varma for the tri-series in Sri Lanka next month.
Even Arshdeep Singh operated with “restrictions” in his body, as revealed by Punjab Kings Head of Sports Science Andrew Leipus.
It is understandable that no player would want to miss an IPL game, but the BCCI, IPL franchises and key stakeholders need to align to ensure Indian cricket remains the top priority. A few days after the IPL ends, multiple players will be off for different assignments. The last thing any Indian side would want is a burned out and mismanaged cricketer carrying niggles.