Gruelling schedule ahead,its survival of the fittest

Since the end of the World Twenty20 in West Indies in May,the desire to stay fit on part of some of the Indian players has been questioned time and again.

Since the end of the World Twenty20 in West Indies in May,the desire to stay fit on part of some of the Indian players has been questioned time and again. A hectic international calendar in addition to the Champions League Twenty20 tournament and the Corporate Cup will put additional demands on the physical and mental capacity of the players.

It is a make-or-break period running up to the World Cup,and some of the up-and-coming stars will have to disprove notions that they are lackadaisical when it comes to maintaining a fitness regime,while established pros must show the form and hunger required to excel at the highest level.

Indias mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton touched upon attitudes,after drawing from his experience of working with Team India,which help players be in the right shape and frame of mind on Saturday. Players who understand about training and want to train,they go about their fitness routines even when theyre not with the team. But a player who trains only when hes told to,he goes home and does nothing and it becomes very difficult when he comes back into the team. Theres a natural culling process and players who cut corners on their fitness get found out, Upton said.

Asked what he thought of the work ethics of some of the younger players,who have been bred on Twenty20,and have achieved instant fame,Upton made it clear that there were no two ways about achieving excellence. The world is changing,weve moved on from cassettes and tapes to digital music. The younger generation is different. They would rather watch a DVD than read a book,rather play Twenty20 cricket than Tests,and we need to move with those changes. Yet some principles stand the test of time,like discipline,preparation,doing whatever it takes. If the younger guys take short cuts,theyll get found out. That becomes their choice.

Yuvraj Singh has faced flak for being seemingly unfit when he was not picked for the Asia Cup and hasnt had the best of times after being plagued by injury. Upton believes that this period will provide Yuvraj with a test of character.

Some of the biggest mental challenges in a sport is one; you get injured,two; you get dropped and three; when you have a low run of form. Thats when the Individual character is really tested. Theres a natural process you go through of disappointment and frustration,sometimes even wanting to give up. Thats natural,but to move through that as quickly as possible is what we try and teach. The player then must understand what he needs to do to get back in the mental,physical and technical condition to be able to be a serious competitor and a serious contributor to the team. Thats a serious test of character how strongly an individual can come back.

No short cut

Upton said that there is no alternative to staying fit and being disciplined. Fitness is everything from having energy to remaining injury-free to be able to perform in an atmosphere of back-to-back ODIs. Particularly for an individual on form,its likely hell take his form into the next game so he needs to be fit to deliver for the team. So theres a number of reasons and we try and make them understand. When they understand,they want to train,as opposed to having to make them train.