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Kirsten feels IPL is great prep for WC

Last Updated 29 May 2019, 11:11 IST

The pros and cons of playing in the Indian Premier League just before the ICC World Cup has been a subject of much debate last fortnight. Indian skipper Virat Kohli, also the captain of Royal Challengers Bangalore, opined that players need to be smart about their fitness over the next two months because the World Cup happens quadrennially while IPL is an annual affair.

RCB's chief coach Gary Kirsten and bowling coach Ashish Nehra, speaking at the launch function of RCB mobile application here at a city hotel on Saturday, weighed their thoughts in. Both felt playing in the IPL before a major event does more good than harm but said being former international cricketers, they would totally understand if a player lays emphasis on the showpiece event.

"We are not looking at this tournament as preparation for the World Cup," said Kirsten. "We do understand that all the international players apart from the Indians are called back to their international teams anyway through the IPL. We have to accept there's not much we can do about that. But we would certainly want to get the best out of every player.

"It's tough for us. We're representing RCB here. When the tournament ends, that's it for us. But we know...we've both played international cricket, we understand the demands that an international player has. We'll be very reasonable in that space. Ultimately every
player needs to know that their priority over the next 50-odd days is RCB. Ashish has made a good point -- 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 because IPL is such a pressurised tournament, it's a great preparation for the World Cup."

Nehra said playing in the IPL, which has creme de la creme of world cricket in participation, is the best match practice anyone can get. "I am a firm believer, not only as a fast bowler but even as a cricketer, the more you play, the better you will get. If a player is saying that 'I'm feeling fatigued and I'm feeling tired and I need a break for 2 games', then so be it. This debate will always be there -- 'oh country first (or) club first'. Cricket is not a soccer thing, that time will also come. Here you have a responsibility to the franchise also. If somebody tells Virat Kohli that you are not playing this IPL, come fresh for the World Cup, I don't think it's the right way.

"You know, IPL is a pressure tournament, it is as good as international cricket, that's why everybody wants to play. So you are going to the World Cup through that pressure. Sitting at home, I've not played cricket for (two months) and xyz is going to think that I'm going to deliver in the World Cup, it's wrong. There's a 3-week gap between the IPL final and India's first game. If you're not injured, three weeks is enough time (to rest and recover)."

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(Published 16 March 2019, 17:22 IST)

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