Explained: BCCI's Four-Stage Programme For Team India During COVID-19 Lockdown

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has designed a comprehensive four-stage programme for the Indian cricketers to stay fit amid the coronavirus pandemic. Notably, Indian cricketers have been facing injury issues more often than not in recent times. BCCI wanted to avoid the further plight of its cricketers and ensured a programme for them to follow during the lockdown.

Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were away from the Indian team, and they were about to mark their return in the South Africa-India ODI series. Rohit Sharma also suffered an injury in his cal muscle during the India-New Zealand T20 series. Jasprit Bumrah had also returned from injury only a little while ago.

However, the BCCI ensured that the Indian players do not catch up injuries furthermore and designed a four-stage fitness programme for the same. Today, we’ll explain in detail about the programme.

BCCI’s Four-Stage Programme For Team India During COVID-19 Lockdown

Here’s a brief explanation of the programme:-

Stage 1: During a complete lockdown, each centrally contracted cricketer was presented with a set of questionnaire to understand the facilities accessible to them. Like Mohammed Shami is currently staying in a farmhouse, so he has access to an open field whereas Bhuvneshwar Kumar has limited access to due him staying in an apartment as of now. An app has been developed to which only cricketers, coaches and other support staff have access to. Players can log in through it to participate in various online training and interactive sessions.

Daily interactions are being held to keep track of their process. The various coaches (batting, bowling, fielding) are conducting their own sessions. Indian team physiotherapist Nitin Patel and trainer Nick Webb are also organising sessions through the app.

Stage 2: Once some restrictions are lifted, depending on how much movement is allowed in various states, players will be taken to local stadiums, and skill-wise training sessions will get underway. The programmes for this have already been prepared, the English daily reported.

Stage 3: When normality resumes, plans are being put into place to allow for the safe movement of players between states to specific centres for skill-based training.

Stage 4: Once the action gets underway, BCCI wants each player to be mentally and physically ready.

Major Cricketing Events Come To A Hold After Coronavirus Outbreak

The sporting spectrum has also faced a lot due to the outbreak of the pandemic. So far, significant cricketing action all across the globe has come to a standstill. India has also suffered a massive loss due to the rapid spread of the deadly virus, and the entire country has come to a grinding halt. India was in a 21-day national lockdown from March 25, and now the nation-wide lockdown has been extended until May 17.

Recently, the IPL 2020 was suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak. To the disappointment of the cricket fans, the India-South Africa ODI series has also been called off. Apart from it, the Road Safety World Series has also been suspended.

The English board had decided to postpone the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka due to the coronavirus pandemic. The series was to be a part of the World Test Championship (WTC). All the English players playing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) were called back immediately, and the tournament has been postponed.

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