Virat Kohli hints at workload management for Shami, Bumrah in white-ball leg

Ahead of the first ODI in Sydney, Virat Kohli has ascertained that both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will be rotated throughout to manage their workload ahead of the important Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Almost after nine months of hiatus from international cricket, the Indian cricket team will be playing their first game and understandably the buzz […]
 
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Virat Kohli hints at workload management for Shami, Bumrah in white-ball leg

Ahead of the first ODI in Sydney, Virat Kohli has ascertained that both Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami will be rotated throughout to manage their workload ahead of the important Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Almost after nine months of hiatus from international cricket, the Indian cricket team will be playing their first game and understandably the buzz is at the peak. However, with a string of fitness issues in the last one month crippling the squad, with two important members of the side now not being available, there would be greater scrutiny on the players currently in Australia.

Now that Ishant Sharma is ruled out of the series, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah will have to handle the bulk of the matter by themselves. Hence, not running them to the ground during the ODI and T20I series will be the key – something Virat Kohli realizes fully. Speaking on the same in the pre-match press conference, the Indian skipper revealed that both the speedsters will be rotated accordingly to give India the best chance in the red-ball cricket.

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“It’s a no-brainer. They have gone through a full IPL. It will be important to monitor their workload,” Kohli said on the eve of the first ODI in Sydney.

Virat Kohli hints at workload management for Shami, Bumrah in white-ball leg

“You want to see how people react to different situations. There is a fine balance that you need to maintain, something we have managed to do for the last few years. That is why our bowlers have been fit and available for the important matches most of the time for us. It is an important factor for me as a captain. It is going to be crucial.”

 

Virat Kohli braces for Aussie challenge

Kohli has a very hot and cold relationship with Australia in terms of his own performance, with the 2018-19 tour failing to match the standard set in 2014-15, but he embraces the challenges the Aussies throw at him. Even though he will miss a major chunk of the Test series due to the birth of his first child, Kohli has reckoned not going easy at all till he is there while hailing the Aussie crowds and stadiums.

“It can be a very intimidating experience if you are not ready mentally and (not have the) skills. In every sport they are very tough, the crowd can be tough on travelling players, and rightly so. But if you perform well, you get a lot of respect. As a sportsman, I am a big fan of it. The stadiums are amazing, always a nice tour full of challenges,” the Indian skipper added.

India will play three ODIs, three T20Is and four Test matches to cap off the two-month-long tour.