India pacer Shardul Thakur on Sunday backed players taking occasional "breaks" from the sport, asserting that it is a massive challenge for modern-day cricketers to maintain their fitness round the year.
Workload management has been a hotly debated topic of late in Indian cricket circles after lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah played only three Tests in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England recently.
"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.
Thakur said a cooling off period is essential for players of this era where they go through hectic schedules.
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"I'm not saying that you keep pulling yourself out from playing the games. But frequent breaks here and there are good for the body. It's going to be a constant challenge in modern day cricket for an athlete to keep up with fitness for all year long. It's tough, it's not easy," said Thakur.
However, the 33-year-old was clear in his thoughts that players should not shy away from giving their 100 percent once they enter the game.
"See, once you enter the game, you can't be talking about workload management because the game situation also takes over. So 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.”
The Mumbai cricketer said the players needed to remain aware of the nature of workload management.
READY FOR CAPTAINCY
Ajinkya Rahane had stepped away from Mumbai's leadership role ahead of the 2025-26 season, citing the need to groom a new leader.
"Yes, I am open for the captaincy. And of course, this (Duleep Trophy) was one of the steps where I got that experience of captaincy. It was just my first game and there were a lot of learnings."
"I wouldn't say that captaincy is difficult, but there are a lot of things which you learn only when you step into the captain's shoes," he signed off.
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