‘Tight’ Ranji schedule could lead to injuries, says pacer Thakur

Mumbai, March 3

India and Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur today said that the BCCI will have to relook next year’s Ranji Trophy schedule as playing 10 matches with just three-day gaps between games could lead to injuries to players.

Thakur said it’s difficult for players to adjust to the three-day gap between knockout matches, which was not the case earlier.

It’s difficult because we are playing First-Class games with three-day gaps. The schedule is becoming tighter and tighter. If the boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be lot of injuries across the country. —Shardul Thakur, Mumbai pacer

“It’s difficult because we are playing First-Class games with three-day gaps — that has never happened in Ranji Trophy season ever,” Thakur said. “You know the schedule is becoming tighter and tighter. If boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be lot of injuries across the country. Next year, they (the BCCI) have to relook at it and give more break,” he added.

He said a few years back players got more days in between matches in Ranji Trophy. “When I remember playing Ranji Trophy back in the days, seven-eight years back, the first three games used to have three-day breaks and then it was four-day breaks and the knockouts were played with five-day breaks,” he said.

“This year, we have seen that all the games have been played with three-day gaps. It is extremely tough on domestic players to expect them to play 10 games in a row with just three-day gaps if a team makes it to the finals,” he added.

Tamil Nadu skipper R Sai Kishore, who has led his side into Ranji Trophy knockouts for the first time in seven years while also crossing the 50-wicket mark this season, agreed with Thakur. “A few players feel the same thing. Fast bowlers are extra tired because you travel on one day. For me, I don’t train much because of the three-day thing,” Sai Kishore said.

“I bowl directly match-to-match so the load on my body is fine. I don’t strain myself in training. I am managing myself that way but should be harder for the fast bowlers,” he added.