IPL Or WTC Final? Ravi Shastri Asks Indian Players To Prioritise

“In an ideal scenario, yes, I would prefer it if we have 20-25 days to prepare for a game like this,” is what India captain Rohit Sharma said following the World Test Championship (WTC) final loss in 2023.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri believes that no team, especially India, is going to get those many days to prepare for the match. According to Shastri, if players want days to prepare, then they may have to skip a few matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“Let’s be realistic here. You’re not going to get those 20 days. And if that’s the case, then you’ve got to miss IPL. So, the choice is yours, and it’s up to the establishment as well. I’m sure the BCCI will review this in the future, if a World Test Championship [final] is going to come after an IPL every time in the month of June, then for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put to franchises,” Shastri said, according to Indian Express.

Steven Smith and Travis Head, who were not part of the IPL that year, showed their class to score centuries and put their team in a formidable position and eventually handed their team a comfortable 209-run win in the end.