Former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has raised concerns about the scheduling of the 2024 IPL season, which concludes just days before the start of the T20 World Cup on June 5 in New York. Singh emphasized the importance of at least 4-5 practice games for the Indian team before the tournament, arguing that it would allow them to acclimatize to the conditions and play against top teams like England or Australia. However, his former teammate Anil Kumble, who is an IPL Expert on JioCinema, believes that the 14-17 matches that Indian players will have played in the IPL will provide ample preparation for the T20 World Cup. Kumble also noted that players who are not part of the IPL playoffs will be able to leave early to begin their acclimatization process in New York.
Kumble’s comments come in response to the decision by England players to leave the IPL before the start of the playoffs, a move that has been criticized by some veteran cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar. Kumble defended the decision, saying that franchises are aware of the players’ commitments to their national teams and have backup plans in place. He also highlighted that each country has its own approach to preparing for major tournaments, and England’s decision to withdraw its players is in line with their own strategy.
The debate over the IPL schedule and its impact on India’s T20 World Cup preparations is likely to continue as the tournament approaches. With the IPL being one of the most lucrative and competitive cricket leagues in the world, finding the right balance between player availability for national teams and the commercial interests of the league will be a challenge for cricket administrators. It remains to be seen whether the Indian team will be able to overcome the scheduling challenge and perform well in the T20 World Cup, which they will be eager to win after their disappointing exit in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition.
