VVS Laxman, BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Chief, recently underscored the importance of injured cricketers moving patiently through required protocols rather than trying to achieve a pre-set timeline in their recovery. Laxman’s comments come in the wake of top cricketers like Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna having spent several months at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), now the Centre of Excellence (COE), for their respective injury recuperations over the last two years.
The primary emphasis of these injured cricketers’ recovery has been physical fitness, but mental strength was also a key component that evoked Laxman’s concern. He elaborated on how the rehab requires cricketers to be patient and follow the protocols carefully, irrespective of the expected recovery timelines. His reference to patience was reflected in examples he shared about Rishabh Pant, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Prasidh Krishna who exhibited immense patience and hard work during the course of their recoveries.
Laxman also pointed out that the challenging part of rehab is the considerable amount of time cricketers spend not engaged in their usual routines of playing or training. Instead, they are required to remain in the rehab room or attain minimal physical activity during their rehab process. Such inactivity often leads to frustration, which, in turn, could potentially affect their mental health.
An instance is Rishabh Pant, who had suffered a severe car accident two years ago, and publicly admitted experiencing frustration during his rehabilitation due to a lack of activity. Dealing with such impediments during the recovery period, the injured players have to realise the importance of healing completely before re-entering the field, a fact emphasized by Laxman who reflected upon his own experiences as a professional cricketer.
In light of these concerns, and with the objective of preventing frequent injuries, the Centre of Excellence has established an injury-prevention programme. One of its strategies includes standardising fitness standards across all teams, from the Indian cricket team to the state teams. These fitness protocols are targeted towards reducing the risk of injuries by addressing their root causes.
At the newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence, domestic players can now gain access to modern training and rehabilitation amenities. This move is aimed at bolstering India’s cricketing foundation by providing players at all levels the best facilities to stay in form and overcome injuries efficiently.
Furthermore, the Centre of Excellence has also empowered the states with telemedicine facilities. This allows them to discuss players’ cases and, if the rehab fails to progress as planned, the player is called to the National Cricket Academy for a thorough check. The player then spends a week at the academy where the rehab plan is assessed and then sent back to the respective states with feedback and future recommendations.
In conclusion, VVS Laxman emphasized the importance of patient rehabilitation and mental strength along with a collaborative effort in the injury recovery process to ensure holistic well-being of the cricketers. He emphasised that the pre-set timelines are secondary to the well-being and complete recovery of the player. His comments underscore the need for empathy, and a patient, well-planned approach to dealing with injured cricketers.
