With focus on turning J&K senior and junior cricket teams to be among the fittest in the country, J&K Cricket Association (JKCA) has roped in former Team India trainer Sudarshan V P – a well-known face in fitness arena – to train J&K cricketers.
To begin with, the former Team India trainer worked for 10days with J&K cricketers – both senior and junior cricketers – who had beenshortlisted by JKCA for the correction camp at Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium.
During the camp, Sudarshan was assisted by J&KCricket team Assistant Coach Milap Mewada alongwith other localphysiotherapists and trainers in strategizing and setting a long-term fitnessprograme for J&K cricketers.
Sudarshan VP has signed one month contract with JKCA in theinitial phase and it would be divided into multiple stints.
In the first stint, he trained players who had representedState in senior and junior levels last year.
Talking to Greater Kashmir Sudarshan VP who has worked withsome of the icons of Indian cricket over the years said that J&K has gotgood talent and genetically have got a good base as far as fitness and physiqueis considered.
“We have got very good talent here and when it comes togenetic background of these boys, they are in good shape. Only thing they arelacking is proper guidance. Initially, I looked into the areas of the concern.Now that we have got the idea what are the areas of concern, we are working onit. I am quite happy with the level of enthusiasm boys are showing. If wecontinue with the same process, I am sure J&K can be one of the fittestteams in country in future,” Sudarshan VP said.
About the fitness levels of the players he worked in thecamp during his fitness stint, he said, “As they are coming from off-season, itis difficult to predict their original fitness levels. However, with thepreliminary fitness tests we conducted on them, they were found to be upto themark. Good thing is that they understood their weakness and have started towork on it”.
“Basically this is a preparatory or pre-season camp andplayers have understood the importance of this camp and they are putting somuch of effort in their training,” he said.
Former Team India trainer said that JKCA has done a greatjob in starting the preparations for the next season early with primary focuson the fitness of the players.
“We should appreciate JKCA for their efforts inbringing the awareness among the players about the fitness. If this process ismade a regular feature, we can turn these boys into top ones as far as fitnessis concerned,” he said.
About difference in fitness levels of junior and seniorplayers and what sort of programs they have, Sudarshan said, “when we analyseand design fitness programs for players, each individual requires a specificprogram as per his specification. We can have senior professionals who may havehigh standards of fitness and at the same time youngsters have lower fitnesslevels due to lack of knowledge or exposure to modern fitness training methods,” he said.
On the occasion Sudarshan VP praised J&K Assistant coachMilap Mewada whom he termed as hard working and talented person.
“I am delighted to see Milap Mewada like person working withJ&K players. He is hard working and has got lots of knowledge, havingworked at the highest level. He has worked with some of the players in
country. He knows lot of things about trainings youngstersand improving seniors,” he said.
The correction camp is going on at Sher-i-Kashmir CricketStadium while as Sudarshan VP has left after completing first stint. He will beback with J&K for a couple of more stints as per contract and the next campmay also involve Irfan Pathan.