Being the first team to start training, with the focus on fitness and conditioning, at the start of this year for the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) must've felt the most disappointed when the Coronavirus pandemic brought the entire world to a halt and led to the postponement of IPL 2020 from its original window in April-May.
Hence, when the MS Dhoni-led team assembles again for a five-day camp in Chennai from August 15 before departing to UAE for the tournament finally beginning September 19, bowling coach Lakshmipathy Balaji said the CSK will be looking to replicate the same training module in hope to get a head start from other teams in the process of regaining rhythm.
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"We will look to continue from where we left off in March," Balaji told the Times of India. "The key to success in the IPL is to perform collectively. Our aim will be to regroup as a team and start our preparations. But each player will have their own different routines and formula to prepare for the tournament."
"The idea is to give them enough space and freedom to understand their body and find their rhythm before coming together as a group."
"We have to slowly get back into rhythm. It should be in a phased manner," added the former India pacer, aware that there will be some rustiness after a lengthy hiatus. "We need to follow a routine giving equal emphasis on fitness, skill and recovery. That's why we decided to have the camp a bit early and didn't want to wait till we reach UAE to start practising."
The likes of Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Deepak Chahar, Piyush Chawla, Kedar Jadhav & co have been training individually since the government first allowed the resumption of safe practice. But there will be a threat of injury when they go through the proper drills in a team camp again, which is something Balaji said the CSK management is wary of.
"There should be phased loading of your body. While rhythm, balance and timing are important for batsmen, things are more physical for bowlers. Managing workload of players will be crucial," said the 38-year-old, adding that the number of experienced players in the side should help with regards to achieving match-fitness quickly.
"In cricket, the repetitiveness of the practice sessions makes you a better player. If you are practising a skill for 20-25 years, it's not going to run away from you just like that."
"The muscles might be a bit stiff initially so you will need a bit of time to find the momentum and your footing. So we need to understand your own body and work accordingly. But the players have been there and done that. So you don't need to teach them anything separately," Balaji concluded.
