It seems the no-tolerance attitude adopted by the BCCI towards players’ fitness is not entirely out of place. India’s poor show in the T20 World Cups and the recurring breakdown of some senior players before or during any big event has occasionally torpedoed the team’s plans.
Virender Sehwag, who has a long injury history, had another disappointment on Monday when he was ruled out of the final stages of India’s 2010 Asia Cup campaign due to a hamstring injury. The Indian opener had pulled his right hamstring during the match against Pakistan and has been advised a 10-day rest. Dinesh Karthik will replace him.
Sehwag had missed the T20 World Cup in England in 2009 due to a shoulder injury and underwent a shoulder surgery.
The blazing opener was once again unavailable for India’s World T20 campaign in the Caribbean and soon after making a comeback from a prolonged shoulder injury, pulled his hamstring on Saturday.
Chairman of selectors Krishnamachari Srikkanth had recently said that fitness was top priority while selecting a player. India coach Gary Kirsten, too, ensured that the players didn’t get into a comfort zone during the tournament, making them run in between innings or after a match. In fact, he made players jog to the team hotel from a point instead of ferrying them directly by bus.
But all this hasn’t helped the players be 100 per cent fit. The seamers looked patchy in their first match against Bangladesh and Ashish Nehra struggled initially. India skipper MS Dhoni later said Nehra is “not hundred percent fit” though he played against Pakistan. Nehra didn’t bowl at the nets on Monday, but team manager Ranjib Biswal said: “Nehra had back spasms in the first match, but has recovered. He is ready for the Sri Lanka match.”
{{/usCountry}}But all this hasn’t helped the players be 100 per cent fit. The seamers looked patchy in their first match against Bangladesh and Ashish Nehra struggled initially. India skipper MS Dhoni later said Nehra is “not hundred percent fit” though he played against Pakistan. Nehra didn’t bowl at the nets on Monday, but team manager Ranjib Biswal said: “Nehra had back spasms in the first match, but has recovered. He is ready for the Sri Lanka match.”
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