Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21: Justin Langer blames IPL for piling injury list

India and Australia are involved in a four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as the deciding Test would be played in Brisbane, from Friday. Meanwhile, India has piled up a long list of injuries, while Australia coach, Justin Langer blames the Indian Premier League.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy has witnessed an intense battle between India and Australia so far, as the deciding Test is all set to be played in Brisbane, from Friday. However, what has been notable is that many players, especially the Indians, have been at the receiving end of injuries.

While Australia has a couple of concerns, for India, as many as ten players have been on the series's injury list. Meanwhile, Australia head coach, Justin Langer has blamed the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the same and feels that the tournament's timing, right before a series of such magnitude, was not right.

"It is really interesting how many injuries (it) has been throughout this summer. I can't help and think that the IPL this year (2020) was in really, probably wasn't ideal timing for anyone, certainly for such a big series like this," he said during the press conference, reports PTI.

"I love the IPL, I look at IPL now like I used to look at county cricket for our young players. They go and play county cricket, and it helps them (in) their cricket development enormously, I think it is the same with the IPL, helps their white-ball development," added Langer.

"But, the timing of it...because of what happened with COVID...probably wasn't ideal, and I just wonder whether that is having an impact on the injuries that we are seeing for both teams throughout the summer, so I'm sure they'll review that," Langer reckoned.

Langer was wary of Bumrah and Jadeja missing out will boost Australia's chances of winning the series, but did not feel it is the favourite. "Hopefully, it (absence of Bumrah and Jadeja) impacts it (the contest) a lot. But, I have said this is going to be the survival of the fittest this summer," he concluded.