Gautam Gambhir Sheds Light On Importance Of Fitness In Today's Era

It is no secret that a player in any sport, not only cricket, needs mental toughness to thrive in pressure situations. But one cannot undermine the importance of remaining physically fit as well. And in a game, as demanding as cricket, an athlete needs to be at the peak of fitness if he/she wants to excel in any version of it.

Former Indian opening batsman Gautam Gambhir has cited the rise of Twenty20 cricket has made physical fitness even more crucial.

With the rapid rise of the T20 format in the sport, players have to obtain maximum possible fitness to excel in every facet on the field. Fielding, which has become a massive part irrespective of the form, has become as vital as batting and bowling.

Especially in a version as fast-paced and delicate as the shortest format, electric display on the field can turn the game on its head.

Players are fit in the contemporary cricket: Gautam Gambhir

The Delhi opening batsman conceded that the current players are extremely fit when compared to earlier times.

Since the advent of the T20 format, fitness has become crucial and in the ancient days, fitness didn’t hold that much importance.

Gambhir further said that today if a player isn’t considered fit, it would be difficult for them to excel in any form of the game.

“If you look at the current team’s players, they are physically very fit as compared to earlier times. It is because earlier, physical fitness was not given that much importance,” Gambhir said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“Since T20 format has come, cricket has become a physical sport. When I started playing cricket, there was no T20 cricket. It was not a physical sport but was a technical one. But if now you are not physically fit, I do not think you can do well in any format,” he added. 

Gautam Gambhir wants females to take the sport as seriously as men do:

The 38-year-old also said that the girls of our country should also adopt any sport as a profession and if anybody does go for cricket, and she wants them to take it as seriously as men’s team does.

The cricketer-turned-politician feels that the performance of the Indian women’s team in recent times can be a trendsetter for the next generation of women lining up to represent the country.

“If girls take up any sport, it is a big step towards our vision of making a sporting country. I would want girls to take cricket as seriously as men take it. If you look at the current women’s team, they have played World Cup semi-finals and before that, they have been runner up of the World Cup. It is a very good sign for the country.” he concluded.

Gambhir himself represented India in 147 ODIs, 58 Tests and 37 T20Is between 2004 and 2016.