Virat Kohli and Team India players await BCCI’s nod to start outdoor training

BCCI has canceled tours to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe due to COVID threat.

The Indian government relaxed the rules for the 5^th phase of the nationwide lockdown allowing athletes to resuming their individual outdoor training in stadiums and grounds near their residences. However, the BCCI has not yet cleared their contracted players for any such exercise.

A contracted player revealed that they are ready to resume outdoor training but won’t do so until receiving the go-ahead from the Indian cricket board. For now, the players have been following the customized fitness routine given to them by trainer Nick Webb and physio Nitin Patel.

"We are being extremely careful. We trust our team's support staff and we are working out as per their guidance. When it is the right time for us to change the process, they will let us know and we will follow the new protocols strictly. The key is to be patient in these times when the factors that have forced this change upon us are not in our control," speaking to IANS, a contracted player said.

BCCI official reveals Indian players will return to training after the monsoon ends

Indian players have through the lockdown told IANS that they will need at least a couple of weeks of outdoor training before they can get back into the zone.

"Yes, we will need a few net sessions for sure to get the timing back (as a batsman) and also to get the muscle memory working. We will be holding the bat after a while also to have players standing around as you face bowlers bowling at 140kph, it will not be easy to come back into that zone and it will need a few training sessions as also the mental memory to settle down completely,” Shreyas Iyer said.

“It is not going to be easy, but at the same time we are professionals and we have played for so many years to reach this stage, so it will not take us very long. It will be a good challenge for us to overcome and get started with cricket,” he added.

BCCI not happy as Shardul Thakur trains outdoors in Mumbai without seeking board's approval

Shardul Thakur was the only Indian player to resume his training at his residence in Boisar’s Dahanu- Palghar Taluka sports ground, but the resumption was not welcomed by the BCCI.

"Will take around 10-odd days. You haven't played for a while, so the body takes time to get used to that side. It is just about following a process to make a return so that the body doesn't feel shocked,” Deepak Chahar had said.

"For sure we will need time to get back to the routine. It's like if you take a break for 4-5 months and then jump into it again it becomes complicated. It will be difficult for batsmen, spinners, fast bowlers — basically for everyone," Kuldeep Yadav had said.

The board is in fact in the process of developing a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which would be put in place for all state associations and players to follow once cricketing activities resume.

(IANS inputs)