Recalling his time as chief selector, Patil said he did not believe in half measures. “Workload management is nonsense. You are either fit or unfit and that’s how we [his selection committee] picked teams. We did not entertain this workload business," he said
Sandeep Patil
Sandeep Patil, the former India batter, who was chairman of selectors from 2012 to 2016, believes the business of workload management for current players could eventuate in a ridiculous situation of team physiotherapists being part of selection committee meetings.
The recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series in England saw India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah figuring in three of the five Test matches, to protect him from a back injury recurrence.
‘How’s BCCI agreeing?’
“I wonder how the BCCI is agreeing to all this,” said Patil, referring to picking and choosing games. Is the physio more important than the captain, than the head coach? What about selectors? Are we to expect that the physio will be sitting in selection committee meetings now. Will he decide,” asked Patil.
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah reacts on Day One of the third Test at Lord’s last month. He missed two out of the five Tests against England. Pic/Getty Images
Even at the risk of sounding old school, Patil remarked, “When you are picked for your country, you die for your country. You are a warrior. I have seen Sunil Gavaskar bat on all five days of a match, I’ve seen Kapil Dev bowl on most days of a Test match and even bowl to us in the nets. They never asked for breaks, never complained, and their careers extended to 16-plus years. I didn’t miss the next Test after my head injury in Australia in 1981,” said Patil.
Recalling his time as chief selector, Patil said he did not believe in half measures. “Workload management is nonsense. You are either fit or unfit and that’s how we [his selection committee] picked teams. We did not entertain this workload business.
“Modern-day players have all the facilities. We did not have such rehab programmes in our playing days. At times, we carried on playing despite injuries. Let’s just say we were happy playing for the country… no naatak [drama].”
Patil emphasised that there are a lot of things to admire about current-day cricket, but picking and choosing games is certainly not one of them: “I marvel at the strokes batsmen play now. In our time we used to be scolded by Sunil Gavaskar if we tried any fancy strokes, but times have changed and we accept that. What I cannot digest is how players are missing games.
‘Well done Team India’
“Meanwhile, I want to say a big well done to the Indian cricket team for winning the Oval Test and squaring the series. Shubman Gill’s performance with the bat as captain of the team is one of a kind. Mohammed Siraj emerged like a soldier and I hope his example is followed,” concluded Patil.
04
No. of Tests Jasprit Bumrah has missed (out of 21) since January 2024
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