India all-rounder Shardul Thakur has claimed players are often ignored when it comes to workload management, emphasizing that timely breaks are crucial to handle the demands of the modern-day game.

The workload management has become a topic of debate lately, with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah being taken care of closely by the team management.

Bumrah barely takes part in the bilateral white-ball series, while he featured in three of the five Tests during the recent tour of England.

However, Thakur pointed out that it is not the case with every player, as he revealed that he had to manage his body with the assistance of physios and Strength & Conditioning coaches.

"I appreciate these questions. No one actually comes and asks us how our body feels after playing for so many months. A lot of times we are taken for granted and the management is not to the highest level.

"But yes, I have been managing my body with physios, with SNCs (strength and conditioning coaches), doing constant work as it's about playing cricket," Thakur said after the Duleep Trophy semifinal, where he led West Zone against Central Zone.

Thakur has been on the road since October 2024, starting with the Irani Trophy followed by a busy domestic stretch in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Despite initially going unsold at the IPL auction, he was drafted in by Lucknow Super Giants as injury cover. Soon after, he travelled to England for India A fixtures and also featured in two Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

Thakur suggested that while players must give their best once on the field, taking timely breaks outside match situations is important to manage the rigours of continuous cricket.

"And it's about playing cricket. I'm not saying that you keep pulling yourself out from playing the games. But frequent breaks here and there are good for the body."

"Once you enter the game, you can't be talking about workload management because then the game situation also takes over. When you go into the game, you're expected to give your best. Whatever you have in your tank, you have to give it all," he added.

Thakur highlighted the importance of giving full effort during games, asking bowlers to hit the deck hard.

"And I believe you shouldn't be shying away from coming in and hitting the deck hard in the game, keep doing those efforts. Yes, when you go out of the ground and when you're resting back home or you have those breaks in between the game, that's where you try to manage your bodies and try to manage your load. If you're not having too much load in the game, then of course you can push yourself in the nets also. But if you're having a big amount of load in the game, then you can take it a little bit easy in the nets," he remarked.