Virat Kohli tells India players to be ‘responsible’ during IPL before ICC Cricket World Cup

The India vs Australia series is the last ODI bilateral series before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in England. However, prior to the World Cup, the Indian Premier League will be played from March to May. This is the first time in its 11-year history that the tournament will be played before the World Cup and Indian skipper Virat Kohli is aware of how the dynamics of batting can be affected while playing in the tournament. Speaking in the pre-match press conference before the first Twenty20 International in Vizag against Australia, Kohli emphasised that the batsmen must show responsibility when playing in the IPL and stressed on managing the workload ahead of the World Cup.

“That (not picking up bad habit) will take a consistent effort from all the players during the IPL to keep a check on that. The moment you enter the nets and create bad habits, you lose the momentum and you lose batting form. It is very difficult to get it back in a tournament like the World Cup,” Kohli said.

In November 2018, reports surfaced that Kohli wants the BCCI to give rest to Indian fast bowlers in IPL 2019, who would play the vital role in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2019. Meanwhile, the vice-captain Rohit Sharma is not happy with the proposal and didn't agree to Kohli's plea. He pointed out that if Mumbai Indians entered the final, they could not afford to rest Jasprit Bumrah, their gun bowler in the team.

However, Kohli is aware that the IPL schedule will be taxing and it can take a toll on the health of the players and the skipper is a bit wary about that. The amount you practice, with the amount of travel during the IPL and the number of games in different conditions, in different temperatures, it is going to be challenging, to be honest," Kohli said.

The BCCI is yet to reach a common ground with the franchises on the workload management of the IPL bound players but Indian captain wants his men to be "responsible" and not over-exert themselves.     

"If your team is in a great position during the tournament, you don't mind taking 2-3 games off also. It all depends on how you feel physically but everyone has to be really honest about it to themselves and accordingly see how they feel and not push themselves to the limit that might hamper the Indian team later on," Kohli made it clear as to what he wants from teammates.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The IPL will be played for the first time before the World Cup.
• Australia last toured India in 2017.
• Virat Kohli sat out of the last leg of the New Zealand tour.