Once travelling restrictions are lifted and the BCCI gives green signal to organise a proper national camp, fielding coach R Sridhar says Indian players will be made to go through a four-phase training module to prepare them for the rigours of on-field action once again. 

Speaking to PTI, Sridhar, who has been with the side since 2014, informed how the team management is planning to get the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah & co ready to resume with their duties at the international level post the COVID-19 hiatus. 

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"I think if you have a camp for 4-6 weeks, we can bring them to peak match readiness...fast bowler needs around 6 weeks, batsmen might take a bit less time," Sridhar said.

"Once we get a date (on the start of national camp) from the BCCI and approved by the government of India, we can start working backwards (starting from scratch). The challenge is to proceed in the right phases as players can get excited when they play after 14 or 15 weeks."

"It's pertinent that we move in the right manner forward. Don't want to look too much ahead," he added. 

Workload management will be even more important after this prolonged break. "Initially, we have to give them (players) a progressive workload. You can't have a sudden spike in workload which could lead to injuries," said Sridhar, the former Hyderabad left-arm spinner. 

"First phase, it will be 'low volume-low intensity', followed by 'moderate volume-low intensity', 'high volume-moderate intensity' and then starts 'high volume-high intensity’ training. This is how we will go."

On what constitutes low-volume-low intensity training, Sridhar said it varies from player to player. 

"Maybe the fast bowlers will bowl two overs from half or quarter run-up. The deliveries will be bowled at 20 or 30 per cent intensity," he said. "For a fielder, it will be at the maximum, six throws over 10 metres or 6 throws over 20 metres at 40 to 50 per cent intensity."

"For a batsman, it will start with five to six minutes of batting against moderate pace bowling. For catchers, it will start with semi-soft balls, intensity will be slow and volumes will be less. Then we can slowly pick it up as we cross one phase after another."

The match intensity training will restart around the fourth week of the camp. "We can't do same training every day as we start with low volume-low intensity training," said Sridhar. "Once we get to the fourth week when high volume-high intensity training starts, the hands will get used to hard balls coming at 140km an hour, 130km an hour, that's when match-training will start. The sharpest minds will take six weeks to get into Test match mode."

It is obviously expected that some players will take more time to get back on track with regards to their match-readiness after such a long time. 

"Definitely, there would be different intensity level, (it will vary) from player to player. That's what the sport is all about. Each player has to be different. We understand that. Each one will take slightly different time to get into the peak readiness," Sridhar said. 

"Someone will do it 4 weeks and some one will take 3 to 4 days more or there may be someone who may take 3-4 sessions more. We respect that. As coaches, our job is to get everybody on the same page at the end of the camp."

Currently, all of the centrally contracted players are following a fitness programme designed by the team's strength and conditioning coach, Nick Webb. 

"Each player is being taken care of in terms of where they are, what equipment they have. Fitness programmes are being monitored every week by head Strength and Conditioning coach Nick Webb, and team at NCA as well. They are being monitored on given programmes," said Sridhar, who has been introducing the team to new innovations in terms of how they can become better all-round fielders. 

"I am still working on it. There are few things on my mind and when we go back and start the camp, basically my mind is working on how to plan the sessions once we get back."

"In a phased manner, we will incorporate a lot of drills, external props would be used to increase their reflexes, reaction drills, deviation methods, all those things, I have a few things and once the camp starts, it will be there for everyone to see," he concluded. 

(Inputs from PTI)