‘They play for 10 months a year’: Kapil Dev expresses concerns on rising injuries to India players | Cricket News

Former India captain Kapil Dev said that the demanding cricketing schedule was behind the rising number of injuries among Indian players. The latest star player to be hit with the injury bug is Jasprit Bumrah who was ruled out of India’s Champions Trophy squad, sending the Men in Blue’s plans in disarray.
“The only thing that worries me is that they play for 10 months a year — injuries will be much more common,” Dev said.
Mohammed Shami, India’s top wicket-taker in the 2023 ODI World Cup (24 wickets), suffered a leg injury post-final and underwent surgery. His 14-month recovery ruled him out of the BGT series, which India lost for the first time in a decade. Shami’s absence left Bumrah without a reliable bowling partner.
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When asked about how Bumrah’s injury can impact India’s Champions Trophy preparations, the 1983 World Cup winning captain said that the focus should be on the players who have made it to the squad.
“Why talk about someone who is not in the team? It’s a team game, and the team has to win, not individuals. This is not badminton, tennis, or golf; we are playing a team sport in the Champions Trophy. If we play as a team, we will definitely win,” said the 66-year-old.
“You never want your main players to get injured, but if it happens, you can’t do anything about it. Good luck to my Indian team — go and play well,” he added.
He also wished luck to the young players as they embark on the quest to win the Champions Trophy with India playing against Bangladesh in their first match on February 20 in Dubai.
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“When you see the youngsters, their confidence is unbelievable. We didn’t have this much confidence when we were young. Good luck to them,” Dev said.
(With agency inputs)
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