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The India National Cricket Team is facing a big problem as injuries continue to hit one player after another. Ahead of the crucial Sri Lanka tour, several important stars are either injured or waiting for fitness clearance. The situation has become a major concern for the team management.
India's injury list has continued to grow over the last few months. Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is the latest player to join the list, adding to the team's growing troubles. Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy were also not available for selection because of their injuries.
All-rounder Washington Sundar has already been ruled out of the Sri Lanka series. On the other hand, Sai Sudharsan has been picked in the squad for the Sri Lanka series, but he can play only after getting fitness clearance from the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE).
India's growing injury list sparks major fitness review
Now, as reported by Times of India, the BCCI is set to closely assess the entire injury situation in the coming weeks, hinting at more changes in the support staff after parting ways with Ryan ten Doeschate and T. Dilip. While Dilip’s contract ended, Ryan left the job to join KKR.
The BCCI is also likely to get feedback from the Indian team management on the team physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain, who has been working with the team since taking over from Nitin Patel in 2022. The injury issue was discussed many times during India's recent white-ball tour of England.
It is being said that Kamlesh Jain and Dr. Rizwan Khan could lose their jobs as the head physiotherapist and team doctor, respectively, after the Sri Lanka tour.
Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir left disappointed as injury problems refuse to end
The team management closely reviewed why so many players have been getting injured in a short period. Captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir are not happy with the repeated injury problems. Amid this, India hand Auqib Nabi maiden Test call-up after Jasprit Bumrah setback.
Both have found it difficult to prepare their best playing XI because important players have been missing regularly as every series has forced them to make changes. The BCCI CoE has come under heavy scrutiny because of frequent injury concerns.
Many senior players are seeking opinions from specialists outside the BCCI setup. Some members of the team also feel that the change from former strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai to Adrian Le Roux has not gone as smoothly as expected.
Team India's Physio and CoE face heat over injury mess
A source close to the development was quoted as saying by TOI: “The role of head physio Kamlesh Jain is under the scanner, as is that of the experts at the CoE. These injury concerns aren't ideal because both the captain and coach have regularly struggled to field a full-strength playing XI. How can one think about the right playing combination when even the 15 isn't their first choice?”
The source further said, “There is so much competition for each spot that a player is expected to push his body. This is where the support staff and the CoE need to step in. They need to raise the red flags and not rush players back into action.
The situation is now becoming a bit embarrassing, and every concerned person needs to be held accountable. Was Nitish Reddy 100% fit when he played the third ODI against Afghanistan? Was Harshit rushed back? These are some very valid questions that require explanations.”
