IPL is Perfect Platform for Bowlers Before the World Cup - MS Dhoni
Updated - 29 Dec 2018, 09:31 AM
Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni believes the Indian Premier League is going to be a perfect platform for the bowlers before the World Cup. Dhoni believes the domestic T20 league will help the bowlers to keep themselves at their toes. In fact, Dhoni feels bowling four overs in the match will not make the bowlers tired.
However, the former World Cup-winning skipper believes that workload of bowlers should be smartly handled. The next year ODI showpiece is going to kickstart in the fag end of May.
Dhoni shares his thoughts.
Consequently, the Indian Premier League could be a perfect warm-up before the coveted tournament. The players will like to be at the top of their game before the big-ticket competition.
“What will be crucial for us is to play the World Cup like a bilateral event. We shouldn’t think of it as the World Cup,” Dhoni said during a Star Sports chat show on the sidelines of a book launch here on Friday evening.
Meanwhile, former World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble and N Srinivasan were part of the panel. However, Dhoni believes it is incumbent to keep the players away from injury.
Read More: Most Runs in IPL 2018.
“Keeping our bowlers injury free is important. If you rest them, the first thing commentators say is they are rusty, and if you make them play, then is he not too fresh. So we have to find that fine balance even though it might be a bit difficult to manage,” said Dhoni.
Four Overs will not make the bowlers tired.
On the other hand, Anil Kumble thinks the crucial players could be rested from some games in the IPL. However, MS Dhoni had a different point of view as he said four overs will not tire the bowlers. In fact, this would give them a chance to prepare themselves for a tough situation.
Read More: Most Wickets in IPL 2018.
“Bowling four overs won’t make you tired. The four overs actually keeps you at your best, you are bowling the yorkers, bowling the variation and playing under pressure. I feel the bowlers can still play the whole of the IPL but what they need to manage is what they eat, when they sleep and wake up.
“I would like them to be at their best when it comes to the skill factor. I always felt IPL was the best time to get in shape because I had a lot of time. I was playing only three and a half hours every third day and it gave me time to spend in the gym,” Dhoni said.
India will like to come up with a complete performance in the World Cup and IPL could help them prepare better for the mega contest.
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Indian National Cricket Team MS Dhoni
