“A lot of times we are taken for granted” - Shardul Thakur opens up on workload management debate

Team India all-rounder and West Zone captain, Shardul Thakur, has opened up on the workload debate, stating that the workload of players is being taken for granted. Notably, his Duleep Trophy side, West Zone, bowed out of the campaign after Central Zone bagged the first innings lead in the second semi-final.

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Speaking to the media after the conclusion of the Duleep Trophy semi-final clash, Thakur stated that no one actually comes and asks the players how their body feels after playing for so many months. However, he added he is in a good place in terms of managing his body.

"A lot of times we are taken for granted and the management is not to the highest level. No one actually comes and asks us how our body feels after playing for so many months. But yes, I have been managing my body with physios, S&Cs [Strength & Conditioning coach], doing constant work,” Shardul Thakur said as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

"And it is about playing cricket. I am not saying that you keep pulling yourself out of 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," he added.

Furthermore, Thakur gave his side of the opinion on the workload management debate, asserting that players shouldn’t talk about the topic once they enter the game. However, he added that they can manage their bodies and their workload between games and series. 

"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. 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 are 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," he noted.

"If you are 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 concluded.

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In the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England, Thakur could play only two Tests, scoring 46 runs and scalping two wickets with the ball in hand.

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