IPL 2019: Virat Kohli wary of bad habits creeping in ahead of World Cup

What's the story?

Virat Kohli has warned his fellow Indian cricketers not to pick up any 'bad habits' during the domestic T20 extravaganza - the IPL. He suggested that players must keep a check on themselves during the IPL. By bad habits, Kohli implies bad 'technical habits.'

The background

With plenty of matches and nonstop traveling, the IPL can lead to a lot of workload. Many players also wander off and try new things in the IPL such as batsmen trying multiple fancy or unorthodox shots. The mindset with which an IPL match is played is a lot different than that required for an ODI, especially during a World Cup.

The positive thing about the IPL is that the players get a lot of game time and also get to share the dressing room with some of the best International talents. However, the negative part is excessive traveling, matches, nets sessions that can lead to fatigue and consequently injuries. The players also have to play in different conditions and temperatures due to the concept of home and away matches.

The heart of the matter

During a Press Conference ahead of the 1st T20I between India and Australia, Virat Kohli warned:

"All the people who are going to be part of the World Cup squad, they have to make sure that their games don't go too much away from the one-day mould of things. That means we will have to be very wary of the bad habits that might creep in during the IPL. We need 15 people who are confident and mentally happy about where their game is at that particular moment."

Chiku, as he is affectionately known, also stressed upon the fact that having the correct frame of mind is of paramount importance when playing Cricket's blockbuster event - The World Cup. Kohli explained that the national team members know what the team requires of them. Hence, those players must make an attempt to 'protect that mindset' and ensure they are aligned to the team's cause.

Kohli further suggested::

"If your team is in a great position during the tournament, you don't mind taking 2-3 games off also. If you are hitting the ball well, there is no need to go to a practice session and tire yourself out for three hours whereas you can utilise that particular phase to rest and recover even more. I would look to continue in the same way that I have in all formats over the years and not do anything fancy."

What's next?

The IPL is slated to kickstart on March 23 with the first encounter being played between RCB and CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Meanwhile, the Men in Blue will be squaring off against South Africa in their first encounter of the World Cup - on June 5 - a little over 20 days after the conclusion of IPL 2019.

Only time will tell how the Indian players take Kohli's advice of not picking up on the 'bad habits.'

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