IPL 2020 timing wasn't ideal - Justin Langer

The Australia head coach believes last year's IPL could have been a contributing factor in the injury setbacks suffered by both India and Australia.

Published : Jan 13, 2021 10:34 IST , PTI

Australia head coach Justin Langer. - AP
Australia head coach Justin Langer. - AP
lightbox-info

Australia head coach Justin Langer. - AP

Australia coach Justin Langer on Wednesday questioned the timing of the last year’s Indian Premier League, which he believes could have been a contributing factor in the injury setbacks that both his and the Indian team have endured in the ongoing Test series.

The IPL was held in the September-November window in 2020 in the United Arab Emirates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lucrative tournament is usually held in India during the April-May window.

“It is really interesting how many injuries [there have] been throughout this summer. I can’t help and think that the IPL this year (2020) was in really, probably wasn’t ideal timing for anyone, certainly for such a big series like this,” Langer said at a virtual press conference.

The latest addition to the Indian injury list is Ravindra Jadeja, who was hit on his thumb, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been ruled out of the last Test following an abdominal strain. Earlier, K. L. Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav were ruled out of the series due to the various injuries they suffered.

For Australia, David Warner was a big blow but he recovered in time for the last two Tests.

Langer was all praise for the IPL, however, saying it helps in development of young players.

MORE FROM AUS v IND

“I love the IPL. I look at IPL now like I used to look at county cricket for our young players. They go and play county cricket and it helps them [in] their cricket development enormously, I think it is the same with the IPL, helps their white-ball development.

“But the timing of it...because of what happened with COVID...probably wasn’t ideal, and I just wonder whether that is having an impact on the injuries that we are seeing for both teams throughout the summer, so I’m sure they’ll review that,” said the Australian head coach.

Asked how much the absence of the Bumrah-Jadeja duo will impact the contest, he said, “Hopefully, it (absence of Bumrah and Jadeja) impacts it (the contest) a lot. But I have said this is going to be the survival of the fittest this summer.”

ALSO READ | Langer defends under-fire Paine, Smith

“And I have said when I was asked at the start of the summer about Virat (Kohli) not being here...if you are taking your best players out of any team, whether it is our team or our opponent, it is going to have an impact or it is potentially going to have an impact,” he said.

But Langer would rather focus on his team’s resources than worry about how India would put together their playing XI in the fourth Test starting January 15 here. “Test cricket, like I keep saying survival of the fittest, and we can’t concentrate on what India are doing, we just concentrate on (what) we are doing to make sure that we are up for the contest,” he signed off.

The four-Test match series is currently tied at 1-1.

The fourth Test, will be aired on Sony Six, Sony Ten 1 and Sony Ten 3 from 5am onwards.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment