With the World Cup taking place just two weeks after the conclusion of the IPL 2019, the latter may be deprived of its usual thunder…
Indian Premier League has pages of its record books filled every year with fresh performances. Here’s a throwback to all the Trendsetters before the start of the 2019 IPL.#IPL2019 pic.twitter.com/lzRn8jPfxu
— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) March 18, 2019
It’s that time of the year again. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to take centre stage as friends become foes and vice versa. Known for its glitz and glamour, the tournament boasts celebrity franchise owners and foreign cheerleaders at every game – and more importantly, is played by some of the biggest names in international cricket. However, IPL 2019 is taking place during a World Cup year and will crown its champion right before the ICC mega-event begins.
Players like Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Aaron Finch have already opted out of the entire season. Moreover, many of the stars lined up are likely to leave early, including David Warner, Rashid Khan, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, Jos Butler, and Jonny Bairstow. Assuming that their respective teams reach the play-offs, their participation will be restricted as they’ll have to join their national squads to prepare for the World Cup.
https://twitter.com/cricbuzz/status/1108209044005797888
Every year, there’s a pre-IPL buzz and 2019 is no different – but problems may start to arise as the tournament progresses and players begin shifting their focus to the international stage. The players will undoubtedly treat the IPL as a competitive tournament, but will need to be mindful of the constant travelling and packed schedules. Precautions will need to be taken by everyone involved to avoid fatigue and injuries.
Pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar could struggle to play every game at the event, while Virat Kohli has also been dealing with repetitive back issues recently. Even though the Indian captain has never won an IPL, he’ll want to avoid pushing his body to its limits and risking the World Cup. On the other hand, local and international players who aren’t guaranteed a spot in their national team will hope to convince selectors of their merit. IPL 2019 will provide the ideal platform for players such as Rishabh Pant, Ambati Rayudu, and Chris Morris to put in noteworthy performances.
Two-time champion Gautam Gambhir knows a thing or two about leading an IPL franchise, and he is not impressed by Virat Kohli's tactical nous https://t.co/LzVqjLSBpZ pic.twitter.com/NAZbMdS4Bk
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 19, 2019
Up until now, national teams haven’t capped player involvement – which means players will have to define the extent of their participation to preserve energy. It isn’t viable for Indian players to withdraw from the entire tournament given that it would leave them without competitive cricket for a significant stretch. The likes of Maxwell and Finch will be playing against Pakistan prior to the World Cup, but India don’t have any international matches scheduled leading up to it.
Despite the complications, the IPL franchise owners have invested huge sums of money and will be expecting strong performances from their teams. The World Cup may steal the spotlight as it draws closer – but for now, let’s enjoy the carnival of cricket awaiting us. Plenty of quality cricket awaits fans in the months to come, and it’ll be all the better if no injuries are sustained during the IPL 2019.