Shardul Thakur has broken the silence on the much-discussed debate about workload management, stressing the point that even after playing non-stop cricket for months, there is very little concern about how their bodies are actually holding up. The topic became the toast of the nation after premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah was monitored closely by the Indian management during the five-Test match series against England.
Bumrah, who is arguably India's biggest match-winner, played only three out of the five Tests, as the management was not ready to take undue risks after the pacer broke his back during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Down Under. Meanwhile, Thakur said that such things do not happen with every player, as the all-rounder stated that he had to manage his body with assistance from physios and Strength & Conditioning coaches, asserting that no one cares to even check how the bodies are in shape.
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"I appreciate these questions. No one actually comes and asks us how our body feels after playing for so many months. A lot of times, we are taken for granted, and the management is not to the highest level.
"But yes, I have been managing my body with physios, with SNCs (strength and conditioning coaches), doing constant work as it's about playing cricket," Thakur said after the Duleep Trophy semifinal, where he led West Zone against Central Zone.
Notably, Thakur is playing non-stop cricket for the past 11 months, starting with the Irani Trophy in October 2024, followed by the full Ranji Trophy domestic season, Vijay Hazare, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The all-rounder later turned up for LSG in the IPL 2025 season before playing two Tests during the England Test series.
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Players should take timely breaks to keep themselves fresh & fit: Shardul Thakur
The LSG pacer also stressed the importance of taking timely breaks outside the match to keep fresh and fit for the continuous demands of cricket.
"And it's about playing cricket. I'm not saying that you keep pulling yourself out of playing the games. But frequent breaks here and there are good for the body."
"Once you enter the game, you can't be talking about workload management because then the game situation also takes over. When you go into the game, you're expected to give your best. Whatever you have in your tank, you have to give it all," he added.
The veteran pacer also highlighted the importance of giving 100% during matches, urging fast bowlers to hit the deck hard.
"And I believe you shouldn't be shying away from coming in and hitting the deck hard in the game, keep doing those efforts. Yes, when you go out of the ground and when you're resting back home or you have those breaks in between the game, that's where you try to manage your bodies and try to manage your load. If you're not having too much load in the game, then of course you can push yourself in the nets also. But if you're having a big amount of load in the game, then you can take it a little bit easy in the nets," he added.
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Currently, Thakur is featuring for West Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy season. Later, he will play the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 season for Mumbai.
