Sanjay Manjrekar Highlights Injury Concerns Among Indian Seamers
Injury Challenges for Indian Bowlers
Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concerns regarding the ongoing fitness issues faced by Indian seam bowlers, labeling it a "serious issue" that requires immediate attention. As India finds itself trailing 1-2 in a five-match series against England, the team is grappling with multiple injuries ahead of the crucial match in Manchester on Wednesday.
Akash Deep, who played a pivotal role in India's historic Test victory at Edgbaston, is currently dealing with a groin injury. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, still awaiting his first Test appearance, injured his hand during a training session in Beckenham. To address the shortage in the pace bowling department, Anshul Kamboj has been dispatched to Manchester.
Prior to his recent injury, Akash had already been sidelined for an extended period due to a back injury sustained during India's tour of Australia, which kept him out of action for three months. He made his return during the 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Lucknow Super Giants.
Ongoing Injury Issues
Manjrekar noted that while there are promising young seam bowlers available, such as Arshdeep and Anshul Kamboj, the current situation is concerning. He referred to Akash's injury as a "glaring example" of the broader injury crisis affecting Indian seamers. Additionally, Jasprit Bumrah, regarded as one of the best bowlers globally, is limited to participating in only three out of five Tests due to workload management following a stress reaction in his back during the fifth Test against Australia in January.
Another young talent, Mayank Yadav, has also faced setbacks, missing significant playtime in the last IPL season due to a side strain and subsequent injuries. After recovering, he showcased his speed in T20Is against Bangladesh but was again hindered by injury, forcing him to miss further matches.
Call for Structural Changes
Manjrekar emphasized the need for a structural overhaul in managing the fitness of fast bowlers, stating, "With the IPL, white-ball cricket, and Tests, we just don't have our fast bowlers staying fit long enough. Akash Deep is a glaring example. It is not like he has bowled a lot through the season, and hence, fit or workload management was not addressed properly."
He further remarked, "This has become a serious issue where you don't have Indian seam bowlers staying fit long enough, and that has to be addressed by Indian cricket. We see young, exciting bowling talent in the IPL, and after three matches, they are not seen in the next season. Somebody needs to get to the bottom of it."
India's squad for the fourth Test includes: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (VC & WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav, Anshul Kamboj.