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“In IPL with different franchises” - Twitterati react as Wasim Jaffer wonders about the last time Team India played with a full-strength squad

Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer has raised serious questions about the fitness of the current Team India squad. India are in the firing line in the wake of their ODI series defeat to Bangladesh. The Men in Blue went down to Bangladesh by five runs in the second ODI in Dhaka on Wednesday, December 7, thus conceding a 0-2 lead in the three-match series.

Earlier, they lost the rain-affected ODI series in New Zealand 0-1 as well. Before that, they were hammered by 10 wickets by England in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2022. The Men in Blue also failed to win the Asia Cup in the UAE, a tournament in which they have tasted incredible success over the years.

Reflecting on Team India’s recent losses, Jaffer took to his official Twitter handle on Thursday, December 8, and shared a thought-provoking post, trying to remember the last time India played with a full-strength squad. His tweet read:

“When was the last time India played a full strength team? Where no one was rested or missing due to injury? #BANvIND.?”
When was the last time India played a full strength team? Where no one was rested or missing due to injury? #BANvIND

Jaffer’s post elicited plenty of responses. Some came up with humorous replies, while others countered the motive behind the post, wondering why Team India, which has boasted of producing two to three teams, needed a full-strength squad to beat Bangladesh.

A few also criticized the former cricketer for being unwilling to point a finger at the Indian Premier League (IPL) as one of the causes of India’s downfall. Here is a compilation of some reactions to Jaffer’s post:

@WasimJaffer14 2021 T20 World Cup!
@WasimJaffer14 England tour india 2021 March when Virat was captain
@WasimJaffer14 India vs Australia odi worldcup in 2019
@AndraNithin @WasimJaffer14 Lord vijay shankar was there so only 90% not full strength team 😂😂
@WasimJaffer14 It's long time that we E1 knew what is our full strength team? V still have time 4 world cup but we just look in panic of not knowing what we want.
@saubhagaya078 @WasimJaffer14 Still lost
@WasimJaffer14 In ipl with different franchises
@WasimJaffer14 England has same issue injury and rest but they winning. Indian team has excuse always
@WasimJaffer14 Bangladesh k khilaf oor kitni full strength chahye bhai.
Learn to play cricket like a gentlemans game not blamegame.
@WasimJaffer14 7th December, 2022 which India lost also.
@WasimJaffer14 There would be a debate around who is considered in the full strength team and who isn’t.
@WasimJaffer14 Sorry , we having world's biggest league .

We need to be fit for that.

All our passionate indian players will be available for @IPL .

That's our 1st Priority.
@WasimJaffer14 I don’t understand people like you are not saying anything about the ipl. Sunny sir you and everyone ex cricketer not raising this point. Just because all you guys get hefty money from it. IPL is the reason for the downfall of indian cricket. Say it say it loud it time.
@WasimJaffer14 During DHONIs era 🎉🎉🎉
@WasimJaffer14 Introduction of workload management destroyed indian white ball format🙌🙌
@WasimJaffer14 It doesn't matter, the amount of Talent India have, Even India A, India B can win any Team.

But the problem is Main Indian team Can't.
@WasimJaffer14 I think Against england in t20 last month semi finals 180/0
@WasimJaffer14 Based on last year's form, a "full strength" team is very subjective. Today, I dont think a team with Rohit, Kl, Virat and Dhwawan is full strength. In fact, it's almost equal to legends league where you have other old men playing. Full strength in T20 wud be aggresive bats.
@WasimJaffer14 There is an excuse hiding in your question.is int it?for Bangadesh you need our full strength team and also match should be at Wankhede.
@WasimJaffer14 Question should be, when was the last time any Indian player opted out of IPL to recover or rest properly? Unless they are seriously injured, they always play full 2 months. Remember Hardik Pandya who missed full year of international cricket only to recover for IPL and World Cup

“Can't have guys coming in to play for the country half-fit” - Team India skipper Rohit Sharma

Team India skipper Rohit Sharma acknowledged that the frequency of players getting injured is a matter of serious concern. Speaking after the five-run defeat in the second ODI in Dhaka, Rohit commented:

“There are few injury concerns, we need to get to the bottom of this. Need to try and monitor them, because it's important to understand this. When they come to play for India, they need to be at more than 100 percent. We need to monitor their workload because we can't have guys coming in to play for the country half-fit.”

Incidentally, Rohit himself injured his thumb while attempting a catch in the second ODI and has been ruled out of the final match of the series. His participation in the Test series is also under doubt.

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