MS Dhoni & Co.’s WC Fitness Coach Shares the Secret: Injuries are a part of every sport, and any player in sports can be injured. If we look back at the last few years, we see India as a team with several injured players.
Some got out from a tournament, some for a series, and at least a few are seen recovering each time, and now media and fans have also started questioning about their team’s fitness because of omissions of many players in each series due to various injuries.
For example, if we talk about their ongoing 2-match Test series against Bangladesh, regular captain Rohit Sharma isn’t playing the first Test due to a thumb injury and is doubtful to participate in the second Test match.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of the series as he is still recovering from knee injuries. At the same time, fast bowler Muhammad Shami has also been ruled out due to his shoulder injury, and recently, Jasprit Bumrah missed the whole T20I World Cup due to the back injury.
If we try to look for reasons behind this, we look at experts and their take on this. Several experts have pointed to team blue’s hectic schedule as one of the primary reasons behind these many injuries.
At the same time, some experts advised using specialists should be played in all three formats to manage this hectic schedule.
Now, Ramji Srinivasan, the Indian cricket team’s former conditioning and strength coach, who was part of the staff during the 2011 World Cup-winning campaign, has talked about this injury’s saga.
MS Dhoni & Co.’s Exceptional Fitness Level While Playing Three Formats, 2011 WC Fitness Coach Shares the Secret
“Picking specialists for each format is a call that has to be taken by the selectors and the coaching staff. But if the selectors decide that a player will feature in all three formats, the strength and conditioning coach must keep the player fit. “
There is nothing wrong with players featuring in all three formats. Don’t forget, ten years ago; you had MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan in all three formats.”
“Players understood their bodies and were smart enough to know what worked for them. And they shouldn’t follow what an S&C says blindly. They should ask questions.” Former fitness coach said.
“Playing three formats is an evolution of the game, and as far as fitness goes, everything is possible. But for that, testing, screening, training, planning & travel and diet schedules have to be finalised accordingly.”
“Players will be equipped to play all three formats, and only skill should determine it, not fitness. If there is an all-format player, he has to be trained accordingly. And as player ages, one has to factor in that as well. Virat Kohli can’t be following the same process now that he was doing four years ago.”
“You need to have an open line of communication between all the trainers, Indian team, Ranji Trophy, IPL or India A, and work in tandem. Too much information can also cause problems. A set protocol has to be in place for testing, screening and methodology in training.”
“After every IPL, it is common to see players gaining weight, fatigue, mental fatigue because of tension and travel. Someone has to take responsibility for the fitness of a player.”
“This has to start from the Under-14 level. Setting up the process, template for a fitness programme is essential, or else we are just going to be shooting in the dark.”
