Workload (mis) management: Why IPL franchises need to do better

New Delhi: Sunday was a significant day in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Not only did it decide the fourth, and final, team for the playoffs, but it also put the spotlight on how workload management has gone for a toss. Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders were in action on the double-header day and the last day of the league stage highlighted how the franchises have (mis)managed Indian cricketers.

Mumbai Indians finally decided to rest Jasprit Bumrah but this decision came two weeks late as the team was out of playoffs contention on May 10. They could have allowed India's leading fast bowler a breather. It is worth noting that the bowler, as revealed by head coach Mahela Jayawardene, had a niggle before coming into the tournament but he was drafted into the XI right from the start.



As TimesofIndia.com first reported, Bumrah was at the BCCI CoE and it can be confirmed that it wasn't a back issue but a knee niggle that needed attention. Former BCCI Head of Sports Science Nitin Patel, who is currently with the MI franchise, accompanied him to Bengaluru. The 32-year-old joined the squad late and marked his run-up after training with the side for a couple of days.

The question now arises: if everyone in the MI camp was aware of the niggle and the visit to the CoE, what was the rush to draft him into the XI? The franchise took it very easy with Rohit, who missed nearly a month of cricket due to a hamstring issue and played mostly as an Impact Player, yet they kept India's MVP on the park for 13 games, most of which were dead rubbers.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told TOI that the Indian cricket board can't "micro-manage" their workload during the IPL and chose not to interfere.

"BCCI can't micro-manage the workload and fitness of the players during the IPL. We can't micro-manage the workload and fitness of the players during the IPL, because otherwise, it will be interference in the functioning of the franchises by the BCCI regarding the activities of their teams and players," Saikia told TOI.

Not just Bumrah, even Varun Chakravarthy played with a hairline fracture for KKR and captain Ajinkya Rahane defended the decision saying they got the go-ahead from the medical team.


"See, our team's physios and the physios of BCCI NCA and the Indian team, there was a discussion among them. I don't get involved in that at all. That's their department. My department is how's the player's mindset, does the player want to play or not, how big is the risk," Rahane said after KKR's last league match, which they lost to the Delhi Capitals.

RR skipper Riyan Parag also revealed that he is "definitely not fit" after the win over Mumbai Indians. He not only played that game but also played the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday. Parag is on the BCCI's targetted players list and will be the deputy to India A captain Tilak Varma for the tri-series in Sri Lanka next month.

Even Arshdeep Singh operated with "restrictions" in his body, as revealed by Punjab Kings Head of Sports Science Andrew Leipus.

It is understandable that no player would want to miss an IPL game, but the BCCI, IPL franchises and key stakeholders need to align to ensure Indian cricket remains the top priority. A few days after the IPL ends, multiple players will be off for different assignments. The last thing any Indian side would want is a burned out and mismanaged cricketer carrying niggles.

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