Former Indian fitness coach explains how MS Dhoni & Co played 3 formats without injury

Injury can happen to any player, but the Indian cricket team seems to be more affected by it. In the Test series against Bangladesh starting on Wednesday, Rohit Sharma will not be able to play the first Test due to a thumb injury. Pacer Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have also been ruled out of the series as they are yet to fully recover from their shoulder and knee injuries. These three injuries are no exception as Jasprit Bumrah recently missed the T20 World Cup due to injury.

Many experts have said that India’s busy schedule is one of the reasons behind so many players getting injured. Others have said that specialists in each format should be used to manage the workload. Now, former strength and conditioning coach of the Indian team, Ramji Srinivasan, who was with the team during their 2011 World Cup-winning campaign, has spoken openly on the issue.

“Choosing specialists for each format is a decision that has to be taken by the selectors and the coaching staff. But if the selectors decide that a player is going to play all three formats, it is the duty of the strength and conditioning coach to Keep the player fit. There is nothing wrong with players playing all three formats. Don’t forget, 10 years back, you had MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan in all three formats. Players understood their bodies and they were smart enough to know what works for them. And they shouldn’t blindly follow S&C. They should ask questions,” wrote Srinivasan Indian Express,

“Playing three formats is an evolution of the game and everything is possible as far as fitness is concerned. But for that testing, screening, training, planning and finalizing travel and diet schedules accordingly There will be players who will be equipped.” To play all three formats and only skill should determine it, not fitness. If someone is an all-format player, he should be trained accordingly. And as a player ages, that has to be factored in as well. Virat Kohli can do it’ I am not following the same process now which he was doing four years ago.”

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