India batsman KL Rahul said he is not overly desperate to resume training and make a return to on-field action after COVID-19 hiatus, given the fact that health safety has become the most important aspect of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Even though the central government and sports ministry have given a go-ahead signal for sportspersons to resume training at empty stadiums, the Indian cricket team is yet to hit the ground running with a proper national camp because of some of the travelling restrictions that are still in place.
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Rahul, speaking on the 'India Today Inspiration', said players aren't in any "hurry" to get back to the field and can wait till it is absolutely safe to do so.
"The government has given the go to start training but we are taking it slow, making sure everything is safe, I think in Banglaore NCA in a couple of weeks things would start off. I am looking forward to it. Having said that, I personally, I am not in such a hurry, we want to make sure that we are safe before everything starts," he said.
"I have been out of action but like I have kept in touch with my teammates and we have been trying to stay fit and we have done our bit, whatever we can in the limited facilities. I honestly feel like we have become a lot stronger. But being on the field and playing the game need a different kind of fitness. We all understand that."
"It will take us a couple of weeks or at least 20 days to get back to being international-cricket-fit. We know the BCCI and the NCA have kept in touch with us and checked on us every week, finding out what we doing and how we keeping our health mentally and physically," Rahul added.
The ICC has decided to ban the usage of saliva as a ball-applicator for maintaining shine, as part of interim health safety measures for cricket matches played before the pandemic is officially over. This will affect the bowlers and the game's overall balance. Rahul said it will take time for players to adjust to such new rules.
"It is just going to be interesting times, as it is not going to be the same game we played six months ago. It will take some time to get used to the new rules at least for the next 7-8 months."
"We are all so used to shining the ball with spit, it will be difficult initially but as people, we will get over things and understand the new way. safety or people and the health of people is the top priority."
"Whatever rules are in place ar thought out and we will follow it but it might be a little uncomfortable and might take some time to get used to it."
Rahul thinks this phase has also made people like him more grateful for what they have and had been taking for granted in their busy lives.
Further, the 28-year-old, who had also started wicketkeeping for India in white-ball cricket before the lockdown, informed he hasn't let his fitness, both physically and mentally, be harmed while at home.
"It's been a really hard couple of months. Everything that is happening around in the country and world has been difficult for all of us. In this, we felt grateful for a lot of things," he said.
"At least as us as athletes, a lot of us at least had some sort of access to training and even for me, at home, I had set up a decent training option for myself. So I have kept myself busy with training."
"The thought of resumption is exciting for all of us, we all know it's interesting and it is not going to be like what it used to at least as soon as it begins. I am excited to begin and just can't wait to get back on the field and get going," Rahul added.
(Inputs from India Today)
