SA vs IND 2018: Rohit Sharma Laments Playing Long Overseas Tours

At a time when India’s cramped schedule has become a big topic of debate, India batting star Rohit Sharma has also expressed his views, saying that playing three formats at one go during an away series takes a toll on the body.

India is currently in South Africa, gearing up to take the Proteas in the forthcoming six-match One-Day International series which will be followed by a three-match T20 International series. India have already played the three-match Test series.

“There have been talks about playing just one format and then going back home. For India, it’s never been like that. India have always played the whole series whenever we have gone abroad. And yes it tends to take a lot out of your body more than anything else,” Rohit said on Tuesday (January 30).

Well, Sharma has his reason of lamenting India’s cramped schedule, as players from other top nations rarely play a full-fledged series on a stretch. Recently in 2016, England toured India for a full-fledged series.

However, after the conclusion of the five-Test series in December, they headed back home for a 25-day Christmas and New year break and returned in January the next year for the ODIs and T20Is.

But at the same time, Rohit should have refrained from making such comments, as the BCCI has already started taking steps to save the players from getting exhausted on away tours. The Indian cricket board now has a contract with Cricket Australia wherein they play Test matches and limited-overs series on separate tours. However, in case of England and South Africa, India still play all three formats at a stretch.

“We have spoken about it that one format will be good for the player’s sake. But previous Indian teams have toured and done the full series and gone back. Whereas it’s different for the overseas teams, they come to India; they play just one format, they go back, get refreshed and come back,” Rohit lamented.

Rohit went on to admit that scheduling is something that depended on the BCCI before reiterating the players would like to play just one format at a stretch.

“Again it completely depends on BCCI. But ideally, we would prefer to just play one format. Go back, refresh, get some time to yourself, think about what you need to do and come back and play another format. But we are used to it by now, and it doesn’t matter.”

At the same time, India’s limited-overs vice-captain tried to look at the brighter aspect of full-fledged three-format series.

“In a way, it can be good, like you can continue the momentum. Not if you are losing the series, but if you are winning, you would like to continue as much as possible,” he opined.

Meanwhile, the ODI series will get underway on Thursday (February 1) at Kingsmead, Durban.