BCCI to Monitor Core Players' Ranji Trophy Schedule for 2019 World Cup

The BCCI has originated a programme to regulate the amount of Ranji Trophy games for the One-Day specialists. Meanwhile, the TOI has learned the players like Kedar Jadhav, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Shikhar Dhawan are almost the core players for next year’s 2019 World Cup. However, they will not be available for all Ranji Trophy matches for their respective sides this season.

Time to relax the schedule for core ODI players

Moreover, it was not possible for Chahal and Dhawan to play for their teams now, as they were a part of the T20I series against Australia. Meanwhile, Jadhav had skipped Maharashtra against the Karnataka side which started on Wednesday.

Although a few players have the history of breaking down, Shankar Basu and Patrick Farhat had decided to monitor the workload. Knowing the mega event in England and Wales is just six months away, the team management cannot take any risks regarding the core players of the ODI side.

“Indian team’s trainer Shankar Basu and physio Patrick Farhart have put the ODI specialists on a programme to monitor their workload. It’s not that they have been completely barred from playing Ranji. But they will need clearances from the team management,” a source close to the team management told TOI.

“Given the World Cup is just seven months away, the team management doesn’t want to disturb the core of the team. Jadhav has a history of breaking down frequently. So they need to be cautious with him.”

Furthermore, Chahal is yet to return from Australia, as he had asked for a leave due to some personal reasons

As of now, the leg-spinner will be likely to come back to India by December 10. Even Shikhar Dhawan didn’t even commit to the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) for the ongoing Ranji season. The Delhi selectors previously informed that Dhawan will not be available for the match starting on Wednesday.

However, they will get in touch with the batsman if he can be available for the next game beginning on December 6. Meanwhile, as per the TOI, Dhawan has shown reluctance in playing Ranji games, as he is well out of the scheme of things for Tests for India.

“He has his family in Melbourne, and the ODI squad will assemble back in Australia in the first week of January for the ODI series. Like Ambati Rayudu, who has given up playing first-class cricket to focus on his World Cup prospects, Dhawan is also now focused on performing well in the shorter formats. How he prepares is up to him. He may turn up for Delhi if he feels he needs match practice,” the source mentioned.