India captain Rohit Sharma on Monday said the Indian players, whose IPL sides won't make it to the play-offs of the T20 League, may assemble in London for a two-week conditioning camp ahead of the World Test Championship final against Australia. (More Cricket News)
The WTC final is played in June, right after the IPL and thiღs year, the final is on May 29 while the WTC will begin on June 7 at the Oval.
With IPꦍL going back to its original home and away model for the first time since post-COVID-19 outbreak, there will be🌃 a lot of travelling involved and among all the current India Test regulars, only Cheteshwar Pujara is not a part of IPL.
"It's quite critical for us. We are going to keep in constant touch with all the players who are going to play that final and monitor their workload and see what's happening with them," Sharma replied to a query from PTI at a pre✃ss conference after India won the series against Australia 2-1.
"Around 21st May, the🌟re will be six teams who will be possibly out of IPL play-off contention anജd so whichever players are available, we will try and find time to get them to UK early as possible and get some time and we will monitor as much as possible," the skipper gave a sneak peek into his plans for the big final.
The three frontline pacers Moham🅰med Siraj (RCB), Mohammed Shami (Gujarat Titans), Umesh Yadav (K𒈔KR) are expected to be first-team regulars for their respective franchises and play at least 12 out of 14 group league games and monitoring their workload will be important.
"In fact, we are se🎶nding some (red) Duke Balls to all fast bowlers and if they get some time to bowl with that bu🐈t again it all depends on individuals," Rohit said.
In England, Tests are pla🅠yed with Duke balls unlike SG Tests in India and the Kookaburra in Australia.
How much time a Shami, Umesh or Siraj can find out from thei🌞r travelliꦍng, matches and busy schedule is there to be seen.
But England isn't alien place for most of the Test squad members as they have all played multiple series there and some ofꦑ them have also played county cricket.
"Guys who will be part of finals are not the guys who 🎶have ♕not played in UK. Maybe there could be one or two guys here and there and rest all of us have played in that part of the world. I don't think it will be huge problem.
"Look, I believe that preparations will be key for us, come the finals."
FINAL AT THE OVAL WILL BE DIFFERENT BALL GAME
While both teams have played a lot of cricket in England, the neutral venue will make it a completely diffe♑rent proposition for both sides.
"Speaking of ﷽playing them (Australia) in finals, it will be a different ball game with neutral venue for both teams."
"Both teams have played lot of cricket in that part of the world and I won't say it will be alien conditions for both teams, but yes, compared to what it is like playing India in India or Australia in Australia, it is not going to be like that, it would be slighꦰtly different from that which I am sure both teams will prepare for it," the 🔯captain said.
