India captain Shubman Gill has criticized his bowlers’ injury breakdown after “every second or third game” and questioned whether they are taking their fitness seriously with a long event like the World Cup approaching next year.
In a three-match ODI series, the Indians lost 1-2 to England, falling short by 27 runs in Sunday’s crucial third game. Hardik Pandya and Nitish Reddy, two pace bowling all-rounders, were sidelined by injury prior to the start of the series.
During the T20I series, Harshit Rana tore his hamstring, which prevented him from playing in the ODIs. Washington Sundar complained of a hamstring ailment in the second ODI, and Jasprit Bumrah missed the series-deciding match due to an impact injury.
“Yes, absolutely,” when asked if there are worries about having so many niggles, Gill acknowledged.
“If you look at the squad, the first squad that we announced, out of that, at least five players did not play this match. So one player gets injured, you try to play a different combination. There are two players, a different combination. But I think after every match, if a player is missing, somewhere we are missing a few tricks,” Gill put forth his point very clearly.
Gill worries that if players get injuries during a few games, they won’t be able to play 11 games in South Africa the following year if India wins.
“If we keep the World Cup in mind, we have to play 11 matches in a row. And here the players are not even able to finish 2-3 series of matches. So somewhere it is missing that our players are not able to play matches continuously,” he seemed worried.
He was annoyed when some of the players were declared unfit on the morning of the game, though he did not name them.
“They play one or two matches. If there is a niggle or something, then we are forced to play a different combination. So after seeing all these things, it is a bit difficult that one day in the morning, if you come to know that this player has a niggle, and then it is almost like, do you want to take a chance? “Someone is 80 per cent fit, you are playing with five bowlers…it is difficult. But I think somewhere, as a group, I don’t know, our fitness or all those things need to be improved,” he concluded.
