Top 5 Indians who might miss next IPL season due to World Cup duties

The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League is done and dusted. The Chennai Super Kings have been crowned as the champions of the season. The preparations for the IPL 2019 has already begun. The franchises who failed to make a mark this season have started their paper work already to sort things out next season. The 2019 edition of the tournament is grabbing a lot of attention already.

The key reasons behind this being the dates of the tournament clashing with the potential dates of the general elections in India. The IPL 2019 will commence from March 29 and end on May 19 next year. Another key thing that is bothering a lot of administrators is the marquee tournament, the ICC World Cup 2019. It is no brainer that the World Cup is the most revered tournament of the cricket world.

While the World Cup dates are not clashing with the dates of the IPL 2019, there is still a big catch in the entire episode. The WC 2019 will be played in England from May 30 to July 14 next year. And as per the recent rulings of the BCCI, there has to be a 15-day window between the IPL and an international assignment.

With this not being a case next season, there is a good chance the BCCI will rest some key players in the IPL in the later stages to ensure they stay fit and running for the coveted World Cup.

Here are the top 5 Indian players who might miss next IPL:

Virat Kohli – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Team India skipper Virat Kohli is an obvious name in the list. Kohli is expected to play a big role for the Indian team in the mega event next year. When the Indian team participated in the ICC Champions Trophy in England in 2017, Kohli was a top performer for the Indian team. Hence, in the English conditions with the white ball action, Kohli remains the main man for the Men in Blue.

Hence, in all likelihood, the Royal Challengers Bangalore could find themselves sans the services of Kohli in the second half of the IPL 2019. If that happens, the problems for team RCB will only pile up since Kohli is one of their very few players who has been consistent across the different seasons. In his absence, someone like AB de Villiers or Brendon McCullum could take charge of the side.

MS Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings

Veteran Indian cricketer MS Dhoni led the Chennai Super Kings to their third IPL title with a win in the 2018 edition of the tournament. Needless to conceded, he is the main player of the Chennai franchise. But with the World Cup duties looming large next year, Dhoni could well be rested for the last few matches of the IPL.

The team management might be asked to use some rotation policy to ensure that Dhoni stays fit and running for the World Cup. Dhoni’s age is also on the unwanted side of the 30s, which makes this proposition of resting him well a very prudent one. Furthermore, Dhoni will have a big role to play for team India in the World Cup next year. He will be the go to man for Virat Kohli in the tournament.

Shikhar Dhawan – Sunrisers Hyderabad

The love story of Shikhar Dhawan and the ICC tournaments need no introduction. Dhawan has been the most consistent performer for the Indian team at the ICC events in the last five years. He was the leading run scorer for India in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 and in 2017. Also, Dhawan was in top form in the ICC World Cup 2015.

And now, he is tipped to be one of the main assets of the Indian team in the World Cup 2019 as well. It will be prudent to give Dhawan adequate rest before the marquee tournament starts. The Sunrisers Hyderabad are equipped well enough to give proper rest to Dhawan next season. Youngsters like Ricky Bhui could well get his chances if this happens.

Jasprit Bumrah – Mumbai Indians

Jasprit Bumrah is one of the leading bowlers in the shorter formats of the game in the modern day cricket. He has become an integral part of the Indian setup. His ability to bowl excellently with both the new ball and the old ball alike make him a lethal bowler in white ball cricket.

Bumrah, who plays for Mumbai Indians, could well be rested for a few games in the IPL 2019. Being a fast bowler, the need to maintain the workload becomes all the way more important. The Mumbai Indians will certainly feel dented if Bumrah does not play all the games for them. But when it comes to the World Cup, the pacer would know that the nation comes first.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Veteran Indian speedster Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not play all the matches in the IPL 2018. The reason behind this was cited that the management is taking care of his fitness. Later, the reports surfaced that the BCCI had asked the SRH management to give proper rest to Bhuvi so that he can manage his workload better.

Hence, it will not be surprising to see Bhuvneshwar not playing all the matches of the IPL next season as well. He is expected to play a big role for the Indian team in the seaming conditions in England. The BCCI would try to keep him fit and running for the mega ICC event.

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