Following India’s defeat to Australia in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final, skipper Rohit Sharma voiced concerns about the lack of preparation time leading into the crucial match. India, who had just wrapped up a busy Indian Premier League (IPL) season, had limited time to transition into the red-ball format.
“In an ideal scenario, yes, I would prefer it if we have 20-25 days to prepare for a game like this,” Rohit said after the final. The statement came after India suffered a heavy 209-run loss to Australia at The Oval. The result reignited conversations around scheduling and player workload, especially when transitioning from T20 to Test cricket.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri offered a blunt yet practical perspective on the matter. He believes that expecting nearly a month of preparation time is not realistic under the current cricket calendar. According to Shastri, if players truly want more time to prepare for Test matches like the WTC final, they may have to consider opting out of parts of the IPL season.
“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,” Shastri said in an interview with Indian Express. “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 the IPL every time in June, then for that season, if your team qualifies for the final, there should be certain clauses put to franchises.”
Australia, meanwhile, seemed far better prepared. Their star performers—Steven Smith and Travis Head—had both skipped the IPL that year. Head smashed a rapid 163 in the first innings, while Smith added a classy 121, putting Australia in a dominant position early in the match.
Their performances highlighted the importance of focused red-ball preparation before a big Test match. In contrast, most Indian players came into the final straight from an intense two-month T20 tournament, leaving little time to switch formats and build rhythm.
As India continues to chase an elusive ICC title, balancing franchise commitments with national priorities remains a major challenge. With the WTC final likely to follow the IPL in future cycles as well, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may need to introduce policy changes to ensure players are better prepared for such high-stakes encounters.
Ultimately, if winning global tournaments is the goal, tough decisions around scheduling and player availability may be unavoidable.
