“Skip the IPL” - Aakash Chopra reveals Gautam Gambhir’s words on workload management

Former Indian opener and commentator Aakash Chopra has revealed the Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir’s comments on the Indian players' workload concerns after Shubman Gill suffered a neck spasm.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, Chopra revealed that during the West Indies series, Gambhir stated that the Indian players can manage their workload by skipping the Indian Premier League, instead of skipping matches for Team India.

"I asked this question to Gautam before the Test match against the West Indies. His point was that if you need workload management, then skip the IPL. If you don't want to lead because leading the IPL team puts too much pressure, then don't lead. And while playing for India, if you are fit, you are not mentally fatigued," Chopra told Hindustan Times.

"And as a batter, I can also second the opinion that when you are going through a good form, you really want to maximise. Because you never know when the bad form hits you and where the next one is going to come from," Chopra added.

On the other hand, Team India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, who attended the pre-match press conference before the first Test in Kolkata, also asserted that only a few players can take up the challenge of playing all three formats. 

"It's super challenging to play all the formats. That's why you see lesser and lesser players playing all formats. Shubman has taken up this challenge and is up for it. The boys are putting up so much work to be in a good shape for the challenge," Ryan ten Doeschate said in the pre-match press conference in Kolkata.

Notably, Shubman Gill has been playing non-stop cricket in the ongoing calendar year across three formats, and he is doubtful for the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati due to neck spasm.

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