Bharat Arun Feels Players Will Need 6-8 Weeks Before Playing International Fixtures

Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun has opened up on the steps for the Indian team to be match-ready for international cricket. With cricket in suspension for more than two months as of now, it is normal for players to feel rusty. When considered England, they are the closest in resuming international cricket in their country.

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As far as India is concerned, the rising cases of COVID-19 make it impossible for the players even to train outdoors. Earlier, fielding coach R Sridhar proposed a four-phased training regime whereby players’ workload would be gradually increased. He stressed the essentiality of managing the same since heavy tasks at the very start could result in some fatal injuries.

Echoing the same, Bharat Arun also opined that the players would take six-eight weeks to play international matches. Leading up to the international fixtures, Bharat Arun suggested upgrading their skills and fitness via training camps and hoped for BCCI to hold a domestic tournament to have them better prepared.

He further said that even as the nationwide lockdown has presently eased, travelling remains an issue. Hence, players would hold training drills and undertake skill-based tasks in their hometown. When travelling is relatively safe, they would be meeting in person; however, emphasised the need for social distancing.

“Partially now the lockdown is lifted but inter-state travel is going to be a problem. But again, what the players are going to do is, they will be going to their respective hometown, the grounds that are available, they would do their running and they would also combine it with skill work. And when they are free to travel, that is when we’d all be meeting but again keeping the social distancing in mind, we’d also be working with them in batches,” Arun said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

It’d take us at least 6-8 weeks for us to play international matches, whereby we’d be first working on the skill, and fitness in the camps and then we’ll progress onto match simulations, and hopefully the BCCI can organize a tournament just before we play the international matches, that would be great for us,” Arun said as quoted by Times Now.

It is a wonderful opportunity for them to get over the little niggles: Bharat Arun

Several experts have opined that when cricket resumes players would find it slightly more challenging than batsmen. Nevertheless, Bharat Arun isn’t worried about bowlers. On the contrary, the 57-year old sees it as an opportunity to nurse their minor injuries which they suffered after a lengthy previous season.

“I’m not worried about the bowlers because they’ve had ample time in the last 2 months, to work on strength and their fitness. Very rarely does an international cricketer, especially our bowlers, would get this kind of time to work on their fitness. Also, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to get over the little niggles, that they may have got over the long season.” he stated.

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