Skip IPL If You Feel Burned Out: Kapil Dev

Kapil however declined to comment on whether he saw any signs of burnout from the Indian players during their recent defeat to New Zealand in the first Test or during the ODI series

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Team India skipper Virat Kohli had criticised the scheduling before the start of away tour in New Zealand as the team had to fly from Bengaluru to Auckland the very next day they won the ODI series against Australia. Ex-India skipper Kapil Dev believes Indian team regular players can give the Indian Premier League (IPL) a miss if they think that the international calendar is too cramped.  "If you think there is burnout then don't play IPL," Kapil told reporters on the sidelines of he fifth edition of HCL Grant's felicitation ceremony. "There you are not representing your country. So if you think you are burned out, you can always take a break during the IPL. When you are representing your country, the feeling should be different," he said. Kapil however declined to comment on whether he saw any signs of burnout from the Indian players during their recent defeat to New Zealand in the first Test or during the ODI series. "I don't know. It's very difficult and unfair for me to see TV and make a statement," he said. The iconic Indian cricketer said that he himself has felt the symptoms of burnout when he used to play. "So many times, yes," said the former all-rounder when asked if he felt burned out during his illustrious career. "When you come into a series and you keep on playing, you burn out when you are not getting runs or wickets. But when you do, you never burn out. You take seven wickets and bowl 20-30 overs a day, you don't feel tired. You bowl 10 overs and give away 80 runs and don't pick a wicket you feel more tired," he said. "It's a very emotional thing. Your mind, your brain works like that. Performances make you very light and happy."