Picking specialists for each format is a call that has to be taken by the selectors and the coaching staff – Former Indian coach

Many specialists have expressed that India’s chaotic timetable is one of the reasons behind so many players getting injured while others have added that experts should be used in each format to deal with the workload.

In the Test series against Bangladesh starting on Wednesday, India skipper Rohit Sharma will be missing the first Test due to a thumb injury. 

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have also been ruled out of the series as they are recovering from their respective shoulder and knee injuries. These three injuries are not a special case as recently Jasprit Bumrah missed the T20 World Cup with an injury.

Many specialists have expressed that India’s chaotic timetable is one of the reasons behind so many players getting injured. Others have added that experts should be used in each format to deal with the workload. 

Now, former strength and conditioning coach of the Indian team, Ramji Srinivasan, who was with the side during the 2011 World Cup-winning campaign, has opened up on the issue.

“Picking specialists for each format is a call that has to be taken by the selectors and the coaching staff. But if the selectors decide that a player is going to feature in all three formats, the strength, and conditioning coach to keep the player fit. There is nothing wrong with players featuring in all three formats. Don’t forget, 10 years ago, you had MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, and Zaheer Khan featuring in all three formats. Players understood their bodies and were smart enough to know what worked for them. And they shouldn’t follow what an S&C says blindly. They should ask questions,”

Srinivasan wrote for Indian Express.

“Playing three formats is an evolution of the game and as far as fitness goes, everything is possible. But for that, testing, screening, training, planning & travel, and diet schedule have to be finalized accordingly. There will be players who are equipped to play all three formats and only skill should determine it, not fitness. If there is an all-format player, he has to be trained accordingly. And as a player’s age, one has to factor in that as well. Virat Kohli can’t be following the same process now that he was doing four years ago.”