Key players will be rested in the near future to keep them fresh for India’s overseas tours from early next year, skipper Virat Kohli said on Saturday ahead of the New Zealand ODI series.
India play at home till the year end, and then head to South Africa for a full tour starting on January 5. The Kohli-led team is also due to go to England and Australia for full tours in 2018.
India are in the middle of a busy season. After the ODIs against New Zealand, they will play a three-match T20I series as well against the Kiwis, having just wrapped up five ODIs and three T20s against Australia.
India also have a full series scheduled against Sri Lanka. It comprises three Tests, ODIs and T20s each starting November 16.
Virat Kohli told the media on Saturday that managing player workload was important.
“It has become quite hectic, that is something we will have to sit and discuss. If you look at New Zealand, they have not played any cricket after Champions Trophy, there has been such a good layoff and it can be the difference in doing well in a big tournament or not being able to do well.”
Kohli said: “We are expected to perform on a consistent basis but rest and time to prepare should be adequate for the athletes as well. This should not be an area where players are chipped and changed according to form, you need to look at all aspects in terms of how many games you are playing and how much rest you are getting… whether you will be able to maintain that consistency for 12 months given the number of matches we play, physically are you able to keep up with it?”
{{/usCountry}}Kohli said: “We are expected to perform on a consistent basis but rest and time to prepare should be adequate for the athletes as well. This should not be an area where players are chipped and changed according to form, you need to look at all aspects in terms of how many games you are playing and how much rest you are getting… whether you will be able to maintain that consistency for 12 months given the number of matches we play, physically are you able to keep up with it?”
{{/usCountry}}The Indian team management have played Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav in only one ODI since the Sri Lanka Test series.
“How much ever fitness you do, everyone needs rest, everyone needs time to comeback from training, especially the fast bowlers,” Virat Kohli said. “We’re doing that now with Umesh and Shami; we want them fresh for the Test season.”
The India skipper said key batsmen will also be rested over the coming weeks with away tours coming up.
“We will have to figure out ways to do that, but it is something we certainly need to discuss in the future as well.”