Australia coach Justin Langer: IPL’s timing wasn’t ideal

Team India physio Nitin Patel treats Hanuma Vihari during the fifth day of the third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday. Pic/AFP

Australia coach Justin Langer suggested on Wednesday that the delayed Indian Premier League (IPL) was to blame for so many injuries, marring Australia's blockbuster series with India.

The T20 extravaganza normally begins in March, but along with other major international events, was postponed as countries went into Coronavirus lockdowns. It was then moved to the United Arab Emirates as cases rose in India and only got under way on September 19, culminating on November 11.

"It's really interesting how many injuries there have been throughout this summer," said Langer. "We suffered through it during the white-ball series and [India] through the Test series. We'll review this, but I can't help thinking that the IPL probably wasn't ideal timing for anyone, certainly not for such a big series like this."

Justin Langer

David Warner and Marcus Stoinis were among Australians injured during the white-ball series. India were then depleted during the Test series. They have lost experienced fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, along with batsman KL Rahul, while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is the latest to be ruled out with a dislocated thumb.

There are fitness doubts over batsman Hanuma Vihari for the Gabba Test after he tore a hamstring in the second innings at Sydney on Monday, with spinner R Ashwin nursing a back issue and reports in Indian media saying that fast-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah could miss out with a side strain.

"I love the IPL. I look at the IPL now like I used to look at [English] county for young players, you go and play county cricket and it helps their development enormously," said Langer. "I think it's the same with the IPL with our players, it helps their white-ball development. But the timing of it...probably wasn't ideal and I wonder if that's having an impact on the injuries we are seeing for both teams throughout this summer."

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