So far what I know, It should not. Most cracks are being happened by hitting an object, mostly a bird. Our company makes use of the windshield heater while on descending to an airport as heated windshield has a higher flexibility than the cold one up above there where temp is minus, also bird strikes are happened during climb or descend. But when are taking off from an airport we do not heat the windshield as the ground tempratures may give it that effect, unless there is no icing conditions reported.