Batsman Hanuma Vihari, who is out of the Indian team, raised questions on the working style and fitness of the cricketers during India’s tour of Zimbabwe. On July 13, Zimbabwe will host India for the first match of the three-match T20I series; Before the match, Vihari issued a number of questions as several key players missed recent matches for the India national cricket team.
Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Varun Chakravarthy are all currently out of the national team due to injury. Hanuma Vihari claimed that nowadays, players miss matches if they have even the slightest problem.
Hanuma Vihari raised questions on Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah
Hanuma Vihari highlighted that Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy and Nitish Kumar Reddy, all players in the team, played the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) season but when the time came to serve the Indian cricket team, they were not available for selection due to injuries.
“I think an important question is that Hardik, Bumrah, Nitish and Varun have all played 14 matches in the IPL, but when it comes to international cricket, even the slightest of niggles are the reason they are out. Harshit did not play the IPL but came back and got injured again. What is the problem? It is not much cricket when it comes to the international level. Why are they breaking out?” Hanuma Vihari raised the question in his YouTube video.
Hanuma Vihari has issued a warning to the Indian cricket team
Vihari claimed that a change in the playing combination before the next World Cup could have a negative impact on the team. On a higher note, the batsman questioned the players’ desire to represent the national team over their IPL commitments, where the country’s top talents earn crores.
“If these players are unfit and we have to keep changing the combinations before the World Cup, it will become difficult. Are the players motivated enough to play international cricket? Or want to play IPL for money and fame and take it for granted?” He raised the question in a video on his YouTube channel,” Hanuma said.
‘Why don’t they fit?’ Hanuma Vihari’s direct question to BCCI
Later in the video, Hanuma took Jasprit Bumrah out of the debate as the pacer has played for India in all three formats with a history of injury management issues. It is well known that the Board of Control for Cricket in India keeps a close eye on the bowler’s workload, as the board wants to keep its top talents fit for major events.
So Hanuma kept Bumrah away from the conversation and pointed towards other players who are not currently playing for the Indian cricket team due to injuries.
He said, “Bumrah is an exception because he is coming back from injury and he has the workload management and he is playing all three formats. But what about the guys who are playing only white-ball cricket? Why are they not fit? It is disappointing and it becomes difficult for the captain and the coach to fit that combination.”