BCCI to devise plan to keep players ready for England Tests during IPL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is working on a strategy to ensure Indian players remain in touch with Test cricket during the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The plan aims to prevent a series of defeats in five-day matches, particularly against England.

The IPL, scheduled from March 22 to May 25, will overlap with the five-match Test series in England in June-July. To address this, the BCCI is planning to implement a system that will allow players to engage in occasional red-ball practice sessions or unconventional activities tailored to targeted players.

The exact details of the plan are being kept confidential, but preliminary meetings have already taken place among key figures of the Indian team management and BCCI planners. The roadmap for these mixed activities was briefly discussed following the India-Pakistan match in Dubai on Sunday.

The BCCI's decision to intervene in players' responsibilities during the IPL is a response to India's recent poor performance in away Test series, including losses to England in 2011, 2014, and 2018. The team also suffered a rare home series defeat against New Zealand and a 3-1 loss in Australia.

While the specifics of the plan remain confidential, it is clear that planning has already begun to keep players ready and prepared for Test cricket.