IND vs SL 2017: If You Aren’t Fit, Your Abilities are Not Going to Work – Ravi Shastri

Jan 9, 2019 at 3:49 PM

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IND vs SL 2017: If You Aren’t Fit, Your Abilities are Not Going to Work – Ravi Shastri

Since the day Ravi Shastri had taken over as the Head Coach of the side, fitness seems to have taken a front seat, coming ahead of batting and bowling abilities of a player as well.

(Read Here: India’s Test home season in numbers)

Yuvraj Singh | Indian cricket team |
Yuvraj Singh plays a pull shot against Windies.
Image credits: AFP

Players like Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina have almost lost their place in the Indian team due to the failure of the fitness test. Keeping the necessity to clear the yo-yo test in mind, Yuvraj decided to stay at the NCA in Bangalore to clear the test at any cost, and it was only after three attempts when he was able to prove his fitness.

On the other hand, Suresh Raina had failed the test twice and is nowhere in contention of being selected in the side.

Shastri, the Head Coach, has again pressed on the importance of fitness, as he has said if a player isn’t fit, then his ability with ball and bat are not going to work,

“Like I said the last time, fitness is the benchmark if you’ve got to be a regular in Team India. You may have a brilliant ability to time the ball or bowl exceptionally, but if you aren’t fit, it’s not going to work,” he told TOI during an interaction.

Ajinkya Rahane, team India’s vice-captain, has gained an immediate attention following his dry run in the Test series against Sri Lanka. In fact, his numbers at home since New Zealand Test series are not good and this (Sri Lanka) series gave an opportunity to raise more questions on Rahane as well.

Shastri though thinks it is only merely a matter of time when Rahane will get his touch back, and he also added batting front is not a concern for team India,

“Ajinkya has had a poor run but it’s a matter of time before he regains his touch. He’ll be fine. Players also rise to an occasion and Ajinkya has proved himself in tougher times. We’re not too worried about the batting front and that’s because of the variety that’s available,” he added.

Shastri also revealed it was a collective decision to rest Hardik Pandya for the Test series against Sri Lanka.

(Read Here: Eoin Morgan confident about Alex Hales’ state of mind on return)

Virat Kohli Sri Lanka Delhi
(Photo Source: AFP)

Meanwhile, the Indian team is all set to play sans Virat Kohli in one and a half year. The Indian skipper has been rested for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, as he has been playing regular cricket from past one and a half year.

The last time he was rested was on tour of Zimbabwe, when MS Dhoni was still captain of India in ODIs and T20Is. In the long home season, Kohi just missed one Test – Dharamsala game against Australia – due to injury on his shoulder which he suffered during the Ranchi Test match.

He has been a regular player for the side and will come back for the South Africa tour, where he will be leading the 17-member squad.

India’s tour of South Africa starts on January 5 while the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka will kick off tomorrow (December 10) where Rohit Sharma will stand as captain for Kohli.

(Read Here: Ranji Trophy quarterfinals day two report)

(Read Here: Justin Langer wants to see Mithcell Marsh in Perth Test)

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