Indian cricketers were on a break with other sportspeople in the country for quarantine for over 60 days. On the other side, they are forced to use any available resources to remain mentally and physically fit without a clear picture of future tours and tournaments. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its approach to the future have rightly given an immense amount of attention.
It has been announced that the BCCI has developed a four-day plan only a few weeks ago, which has already been implemented and will continue until the lockdown is lifted.
“These physical and mental aspects of our cricketers, the online medical treatment and diets monitoring are carried out daily, fitness seminars are being conducted, etc.,” said the BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal. “It is a gradual process, and the secretary (Jay Shah) has checked progress on a basis. What we’ve tried to do is to split this process into different phases, the following information are included on the plan.
THE FOUR STAGE PLAN
Stage 1: Complete Lockdown
Questionnaires were presented to all central players to understand their lock-down facilities. For instance, Mohd Shami is at an open farmhouse, whereas Bhuvneshwar Kumar is at a minimal gym apartment.
Team India physiotherapist Nitin Patel and Nick Webb coach are given an app to monitor their schedule and training with players daily. Under the guidance of the head coach, batting and bowling coaches take part separately.
“Team India coaches are also holding sessions with the coaching staff of the National Cricket Academy (NCA), and an effort has taken to bring about the uniformity (in all levels of coaching,” said a source of information.
Stage 2: Partial Lockdown
According to reports, programs will adjust as soon as the partial lockdown takes place. Players are taken to local stadiums, and’ ‘skills-wise programs’ are introduced. Of course, this depends on the success of the state and the central governments.
Stage 3: As normal Life Resumes
The board is preparing the plan to decide a particular stadium to shift cricketers within a couple of weeks to be trained after lifting the lockdown, normal life, and when journeys are possible.
Stage 4: Resumption of Cricket
The Indian team has also been working from home, like every other professional. Some time back, the BCCI developed a video application for all players, coaches, and support staff members of the senior Indian squad. The clips included individual performances, team activities, duels specifically for a bowler or batsman, a database showing the causes of repeated injury and other material that should be improved.
The four-stage system was designed for players to do so during the different lock-down phases.
The lockdown is not being easy for anyone; the cricketers have the same thing. Moreover, when cricket resumes, the boys have to be at their best from scratch. Hence a great deal of effort must be made, in whatever way possible. Secondly, cricket resumes are uncommon for a boy. In this case, we have to deal with it very much, in whatever situation we can.
Batting coach Rathour focused on personalities and details. “It’s a special window of time to look back on it,” “It’s the platform where the players can talk. I’m trying to listen to it and take it all into my hands and focus on the problems brought up.
Fielding Coach Sridhar has prepared a list of 25 questions, input from cricketers—-which can be part of team assessment worksheets.
Questions such as what they learned from the last series or year of cricket, what goals they want to set and accomplish once cricket begins, which kind of practice sessions are most appropriate to a player and which differences are dominant.
Bowling coach Arun stated “An international sportsman is like a runner, and if he can not go around it, it is unfortunate. It may be difficult not to use energy. This can be boring and monotonous, but that is the challenge; to stay focused and inspired to work for the bigger picture”.
