BCCI Didn't Force 'Cooked' Kohli & Co To Play All Matches

Cricket Image for BCCI Didn't Force 'Cooked' Kohli & Co To Play All Matches (Indian Cricket Team (Image Source: Google))

India skipper Virat Kohli's criticism of cramped scheduling after the third and final ODI against England may not amuse the Indian cricket board (BCCI) which had left it to the players to skip matches in case they needed a break.

Kohli had, on Sunday, said that "scheduling needs to be looked at in future... You can't expect everyone to be at the same level of mental strength. Sometimes, you do get cooked and you do feel like a bit of a change". However, the BCCI had not forced players to play all the matches, it has been learned by IANS.

"In these times of Covid-19, you can plan schedule to an extent but not foresee every situation -- how is it going to be or how will it pan out in a certain period? With the bench-strength we have, if someone wanted to take a break then the person could gave been given rest," said a source from the BCCI.

The source confirmed that the Board had not forced any player to play all matches and allowed them the option of rest especially with the bench-strength available.

India, in fact, had won the Test series in Australia despite the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli and frontline pace bowler Mohammed Shami, both not playing the last three Tests in Australia for different reasons.

Opening batsman Rohit Sharma had also missed the second Test in Melbourne, which India won.

Read More