Ravi Shastri strictly orders BCCI to block Indian players' IPL participation if...

Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri was not impressed with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final clash schedule. The former all-rounder stated that Indian players will have to miss the IPL in order to be prepared if the WTC final continues to be held in June.

Ravi Shastri has repeatedly raised concerns over the rise of T20 leagues, especially the IPL, which has reshaped the landscape of international cricket. He believes these leagues have led to a congested calendar, leaving national teams with limited time to prepare for key international tournaments.

There should be certain clauses put to franchises - Ravi Shastri on WTC Final Scheduling Conflict

Ravi Shastri raised doubts about the possibility of extra preparation time for major tournaments in today’s packed cricket schedule. He stated that expecting a 20-day preparation window isn't realistic unless the IPL is taken out of the calendar.

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Ravi Shastri also opined that the BCCI should interfere in this matter and block Indian players' participation in IPL if those players need to be made available forthe WTC final.

“Let’s be realistic here. You’re not going to get those 20 days. And if that’s the case, then you’ve got to miss IPL. So, the choice is yours, and it’s up to the establishment as well,” Ravi Shastri said, as quoted by the Indian Express.

"I’m sure the BCCI will review this in the future, if a World Test Championship [final] is going to come after an IPL every time in the month of June, then for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put to franchises," Ravi Shastri added.

India Looked Underprepared in WTC 2023 Final, Suffered 209-Run Defeat

The build-up to the WTC 2025 Final offered little time after the conclusion of the IPL on June 3, following a revised schedule. Australia and South Africa entered the marquee clash without ideal red-ball preparation. India had already experienced it ahead of the 2023 WTC Final against Australia.

In the WTC 2023 final, India looked underprepared and were convincingly beaten by Australia by 209 runs at The Oval. After the loss, then-captain Rohit Sharma admitted the team lacked sufficient time to prepare, stating that at least 20–25 days of preparation would have been preferable.

"In an ideal scenario, yes, I would prefer it if we have 20-25 days to prepare for a game like this," Sharma had said after the loss.

Australia's Steve Smith and Travis Head, who had skipped the IPL that year, made a big impact by scoring centuries. In contrast, the Indian players, having just come off the T20 format, struggled to adjust to the demands of Test cricket, both in batting and bowling.

2023 WTC Final Was Held 10 Days After the 2023 IPL Final

The WTC Final 2023 took place just 10 days after the IPL final. Notably, the original IPL 2025 schedule included a two-week window, giving players some time before the WTC Final on June 11. However, an unexpected one-week suspension in India forced a change in fixtures.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) took a firm stance this time. To ensure better preparation for the 2025 WTC Final, they withdrew key players such as Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch from the IPL Playoffs, even though their teams had advanced to the knockout stage.

In 2023, the IPL final was held on May 28, and the WTC Final started on June 7, leaving little time for players to switch formats and prepare adequately.

Also read: Watch: RCB fans brutally mock S Badrinath in TNPL 2025; Ex-CSK Star's reaction goes viral