The Indian cricket team in England is grappling with a wave of injuries, raising serious questions about player fitness and the effectiveness of existing protocols.
Injury Woes Mount for India
Just a week after the Lord’s Test, all-rounder Nitish Reddy was confirmed to be flying home due to a left-knee injury. This news came shortly before pacer Akash Deep underwent a fitness test in Manchester, with coaches anxiously observing.
Akash Deep, who impressed early in the tour, did not bowl in the nets and is now unlikely to play in the crucial fourth Test, adding to India’s growing injury list.
Team Management Demands Change
These back-to-back injuries, occurring after just two Tests, have not been well-received by the team management. Players were reportedly urged to improve their fitness following the Lord’s Test.
Efforts are now underway to establish a more robust pre-tour fitness assessment protocol. The new leadership is keen on a transparent system to prevent frequent breakdowns that disrupt team plans and impact results.
Experts Weigh In on Preventable Injuries
Ramji Srinivasan, former Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 2011 World Cup-winning team, expressed concern. He believes better precautionary measures could have been taken by the support staff.
According to Srinivasan, there needs to be greater predictability regarding non-match injuries, with clear testing and assessment protocols implemented before any major tour.
Akash Deep’s Recurring Niggle
Akash Deep’s current setback follows a hip issue at Lord’s, which his teammate Mohammed Siraj had previously mentioned. Interestingly, the pacer had a niggle even at the start of the tour, prompting India to call up Harshit Rana as a backup, who was later sent home after Akash Deep was cleared.
With Akash Deep sidelined, Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj has now joined the team for training. This could see an untested debutant play the crucial Manchester Test, especially if Prasidh Krishna continues to struggle with his length.
Nitish Reddy’s Workload Mystery
Nitish Reddy’s injury also raises eyebrows. Throughout the IPL, he bowled only five overs. His coach at SRH, Daniel Vettori, had explained that this was due to a recurring side-strain he carried into the tournament.
The question now is whether the 17 overs Reddy bowled at Lord’s, where he took a key breakthrough, were simply too much for a player with a history of injuries and low recent bowling load.
The Science of Prevention
Expert trainers emphasize that modern science can predict many injuries, but it requires scientific assessment and, crucially, players being honest about their fitness. Injuries can stem from various factors, including poor movement patterns, muscle overload, or a lack of athletic training.
Specialized equipment exists to thoroughly test joints and muscles for strength and power. Such comprehensive testing should be a mandatory part of pre-series protocols to minimize unexpected breakdowns.
Unforeseen Setbacks and Ironies
Not all injuries are preventable. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, who was close to making his Test debut, was ruled out after cutting his finger while stopping a ball in nets, requiring stitches.
Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav, the left-arm wrist-spinner, has been constantly testing batsmen in the nets. His potential inclusion in the Manchester Test due to ongoing injury complications would be an irony, given he might have been better suited for the Lord’s conditions but was overlooked then.
- India is facing multiple player injuries, including Nitish Reddy and Akash Deep, during the England tour.
- The team management is pushing for stricter pre-tour fitness assessment protocols to prevent future breakdowns.
- Experts suggest better precautionary measures and comprehensive scientific testing can predict and prevent many non-match injuries.
- Some injuries, like Arshdeep Singh’s net accident, are unavoidable, further complicating team selections.
These recurring fitness concerns highlight a critical challenge for the Indian team as they aim to compete at the highest level of Test cricket.
