No Cap on IPL Matches for India’s World Cup-Bound Players: Kohli

The Indian skipper is expecting his teammates to be smart about their workload ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019.

File picture of India and Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Virat Kohli addressing a press conference during IPL 2018.

(Photo: IANS)

“Someone else's body might be more capable than mine or less, that is a very individual thing. And everyone wants to play the World Cup, so people will be smart about it because you don't want to miss out on such a big event,” Kohli said at the launch of RCB’s official app.

Kohli added that it is up to individual players to deal with the issue to keep their body fit and be in contention for a place in the World Cup-bound squad.

“From a responsibility point of view, all the Indian players will have the responsibility during the IPL to keep a watch on their fitness and their workloads.”

Virat Kohli

“And to continue the frame of mind we have created in the Indian team - strive towards excellence and improve every day. Each player will take this tournament as an opportunity to go to the World Cup in a good frame of mind.”

World Cup winning former India coach Gary Kirsten feels that IPL would serve as good preparation for the Indian players ahead of the World Cup.

Kirsten: IPL Good Preparation for India

The 12th edition of the IPL, which gets underway with RCB visiting defending champions Chennai Super Kings on Saturday, 23 March, will also see Kohli reunited with Gary Kirsten – the coach who oversaw India’s last World Cup title winning campaign in 2011.

Kirsten reckons that the IPL will serve as a good preparation ground for the Indian players.

“We do understand all the international players, apart from the Indians, will be called back to their internationals teams anyway through the IPL,” Kirsten said.

“We have to accept there's not much we can do about that. We understand the demands that an international player has. We'll be very reasonable in that space.”

“If you get yourself match-ready during the IPL, that’s going to hold you in really good stead during the World Cup. I think it’s an advantage to the Indian players, actually.”

Gary Kirsten

“Because the IPL is such a pressurised tournament, it's great preparation for the World Cup,” the former South African opener added.

(With inputs from PTI)