Ranji Trophy: Centurion Thakur wants bigger gaps between first-class games

The schedule is becoming tighter. I think if the boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be a lot of injuries across the country,” Thakur remarked

India all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who smashed 109 for Mumbai against Tamil Nadu (TN) in the Ranji Trophy semi-final on Sunday, urged the authorities to have a longer gap between first-class games.

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Extremely tough

Thakur, 32, reckoned that just a three-day gap between each first-class game affects a cricketer’s workload and recovery period. “It’s difficult because we are playing first-class games with a gap of just three days. That has never happened in the Ranji Trophy season. I remember the first three games having a three-day gap. Then, four days and for knockouts, there was a five-day break. This year we have seen that all the games are played with a three-day gap. It is extremely tough on domestic players to expect them to play 10 games in a row with just three days gap if the team make it to the final. I think next year they [BCCI] will have to re-look and give us more break [days],” said Thakur, who is playing his fourth Ranji game of the season.

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Thakur predicts injury worries 

Thakur brought up frequent injuries too. “When nine teams were in the group, one team would get a break in the round robin system. Now with only eight teams in a group, everyone plays each other. So, that break has gone now. The schedule is becoming tighter. I think if the boys keep playing like this for two more seasons, there will be a lot of injuries across the country,” Thakur remarked. 

Meanwhile, TN skipper Sai Kishore echoed Thakur’s sentiments. “A few players feel the same thing. Fast bowlers are extra tired. For me, I don’t train much because of the three-day [gap] thing. I bowl directly match-to-match so the load on my body is fine. I don’t strain myself in pre-match training. I am managing myself that way, but it could be harder for the fast bowlers,” said the left-arm spinner.

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