Anil Kumble Keeps Mental Training Above Physical Fitness For Preparing In IPL 2020

Aug 15, 2020 at 2:55 PM

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Anil Kumble Keeps Mental Training Above Physical Fitness For Preparing In IPL 2020

Although Indian Premier League’s rescheduling has brought back the smile on Indian cricketers and fans, Anil Kumble feels the challenging task awaits for the IPL franchises. As the Indian players will get back into action after five months gap, the former Indian cricketer worries on player’s mental health more than physical fitness. 

IPL 2020 is slated from 19th September in the UAE amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Indian cricket bound with IPL contract has not gone to any training session with the franchise. They are expected to reach three-four weeks ahead of the league to prepare for the league. 

KXIP, IPL 2020
Photo: BCCI

IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab head coach Anil Kumble said that it would be challenging for players to instantly get the player’s match ready. He opines that cricketers need to keep calm while preparing themselves and should maintain their balance. 

“For a player, it will be a challenge to get into the groove quickly and maintain that because it’s going to be a long tournament. IPL has its ups and downs and every team goes through that. So, you have to keep calm and not worry about what happens to the result because if it’s a good result, we tend to react to it and if it’s a bad one, sometimes we overreact. Keeping a balance will be the key.”

As the league will span for 53 days (approx three months), Kumble points out that franchises should maintain the family like-environment. 

“We’d like to see this as a family for the three months that we are together. We are leaving behind our families, so we must make sure the players feel like they’re part of this family”

The SOP will be the biggest challenge: Anil Kumble

KXIP, IPL
KXIP. Image Credit: Getty Images.

For the safety of players, BCCI had proposed a Standard Operating Procedure which includes details on dos and don’ts during travel, lodging and training during the tournament.

The IPL franchise would have to create a bio-secure environment during which they can not meet outsiders. Anil Kumble finds it a challenge to abide by SOP. 

As players will have to within the bubble for such a long period, Kumble added that the team management will have to motivate the players and create happy space. He expressed that it’s about managing life and the players’ mental space rather than cricket 

“Getting used to the SOP will be the biggest challenge,” Kumble said. “Health and safety of players and support team will be most important, so we’ll have to make sure that everyone follows the SOP. Managing the bubble, ensuring players’ safety will be a task. I’m sure there will be times when we’ll have to motivate them.”

“It’s not easy living in a bubble and we’ll have to make sure they’re in a happy space. In such a scenario, it’s about managing life and the players’ mental space rather than cricket because that comes naturally to them once they get onto the field. So, communication will be the key.

“The most important aspect one needs to look at is the anxiety factor. Everybody is anxious. They want to go out and play. You have to sort of pull them back because it’s been four months of not doing enough and you cannot go out there and put in your 100% from day one. It’s going to be tough for the players to get match ready, we’ll build up to it,” Kumble maintained 

The King’s XI side has 17 Indian players in their ranks, and, apart from Anil Kumble, batting coach Wasim Jaffer, team analyst Ashish Tuli, general manager (cricket operations) Avinash Vaidya and Naresh Kumar, the masseur, are also Indians, so all of them should leave for the UAE together. 

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