Fitness activity without chance to perform is waste of time: Former Team India trainer

Former Indian cricket team trainer Ramji Srinivasan feels that fitness for elite athletes is a "waste of time" if its not transferred into "world class performance" which is not being possible during countrywide lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.

"Fitness per say in sports is waste of time if there is no transfer taking place on to the field to give out top class performance. Positive transfer from one to another is the key to fitness," Ramji told PTI during an interaction.

"A person can do Olympic lift of 100 kgs at this stage, but he or she is not guaranteed to be injury free or increase in performance unless there is transfer. Bowlers do take a hit during this phase for sure. Batters not much," he added.

Asked if long breaks can be difficult for bowlers, he said, "Oh yes for sure. Bowling is all about rhythm and skill- based fitness. There has to be a transfer from one to another. Just because someone is doing 150 kg deadlift now need not bowl quick or effectively once the match starts soon. Skill-based fitness has taken a hit for sure. More time on the nets more muscle memory is my take on it."
Srinivasan, who is presently working with sportspeople including paddlers A Sharath Kamal and G Sathiyan among others, felt mental fatigue was likely to happen for sportspersons and said, "This is the time where they can focus on varied aspects of mental conditioning and physical conditioning to solve the jigsaw puzzle..."