Kumble protocol: Domestic cricket for the injured

Tribune News Service

Rajkot, November 6

India coach Anil Kumble has said that national team players who have been forced to drop off due to injuries need to play domestic cricket in order to be considered for a comeback.

This is a very interesting decision at a very interesting time — a few key India players have been forced to miss international matches due to injuries in the recent weeks. Rohit Sharma (quadriceps), KL Rahul (hamstring), Shikhar Dhawan (thumb fracture) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (back) got injured during the Test and ODI series against New Zealand. Kumble’s comments today mean that these players would need to play in the ongoing Ranji Trophy to become eligible for a comeback.

In fact, Kumble’s policy is perhaps suitable for the current times, when the Indian team has several options and back-up players, right from the opening slots to the bowling department.

“Whether doing well or not, communication with injured players is equally important. Having played the game, I know exactly what goes through players’ mind while watching somebody else playing,” Kumble said. “While he expects the team and that player to do well, it is important to keep all of them in loop.”

“It is unfortunate that KL Rahul, who batted brilliantly, is missing out. So is Bhuvi, Shikhar. And it’s a big blow for Rohit,” the coach said. “Specially feel sad for Rohit as he was doing well in Test format. Obviously we all know the importance of Rohit in shorter format.”

Kumble also spoke about the importance of being fully fit, instead of trying to get fit in a hurry.

“Timing of injuries is not ideal for them. They realise it’s an occupational hazard. One should not look at coming back quickly,” Kumble said. “That might not help the individual and also let the team down. I believe in comeback when someone is 100 percent. We are trying to set certain protocols. We want people to play domestic cricket if it’s happening. Play under pressure before coming back. One needs to understand that injuries are part and parcel of a player’s life.”

Pandya or Nair?

Kumble, understandably, was non-committal about the team combination for the first Test of the series, which begins on Wednesday. Depending on the conditions and the pitch, Hardik Pandya or Karun Nair could debut for India.

Kumble talked at length about both players, their abilities which brought them to the national squad. “Whether it is a short glimpse in T20s or even in the (New Zealand) One-dayers when he bowled in Dharamsala and batted in Delhi, we could see that he is a quality player and that’s why we have backed him to get him into the Test squad because we understand the importance of an all-rounder, the importance of a fifth bowler,” Kumble said about Pandya. “If someone can bowl 140 (kmph) and give you the option of batting really well lower down the order, that’s a great option to have. So we are really looking forward to seeing how Hardik develops.”

“Karun is certainly someone we have kept a close eye on and backed him for all the things he has done in domestic cricket,” he went on to say about Nair, who turns 25 next month. “There was a little bit of talk of him not performing for India A in Australia but what we are looking at is consistency and he has done all the hard work and that’s why he was a part of the squad (for the Tests against New Zealand) as well. Since then he has gone into Ranji Trophy and got more runs, got hundreds, and it’s opened an opportunity for Karun.”

— With agency inputs