Former Team India captain and head coach, Ravi Shastri voiced his frustration and anger with the Indian players, who have been constantly missing time because of injuries. The cricketer-turned-commentator went as far as saying that a few players will become 'permanent residents of the NCA (National Cricket Academy)' because certain players can't seem to string three-four matches without sustaining an injury.
"Let's put it this way: there are quite a few in the last three or four years who are permanent residents of the NCA," Shastri said on ESPNcricinfo's T20 Time: Out show.
"Soon, they'll get a resident permit there to walk in any time they want, which is not a good thing at all. It's unreal," he added.
Recently, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fast bowler Deepak Chahar hobbled off the ground in between the game against Mumbai Indians due to a hamstring problem. Chahar was out for a better part of 2022 due to a hamstring injury and it was frustrating to see him hobbling once again.
Shastri's agitation quadrupled as he opined on the players' workload as he said it's 'annoying' for everyone involved to see a player get injured on a regular basis.
"Come on, you're not playing that much cricket to be injured again and again. I mean, you can't play four matches on the trot. What are you going to the NCA for? If you are going to come back and then three matches (later) you're back there. So make sure you get fit and come once and for all because it's damn frustrating. Not just for the team, the players, the BCCI, the captains of the various (IPL) franchises. It's annoying, to say the least," the former coach added.
"I can understand a serious injury, but every four games when someone touches his hamstring or someone touches his groin, you start thinking what are these guys… what are they training, what's going on. And some of them don't play any other cricket in the year. It's just four overs (in IPL), man, three hours. The game is over," Shastri opined.
Recurring injuries are something that have plagued the Indian national team players in recent times. Jasprit Bumrah is out of contention for the foreseeable future, while star middle-order batter Shreyas Iyer also missed this season's IPL with a back injury.
ALSO READ:
IPL 2023 Purple Cap: Mark Wood on top as LSG and GT bowlers dominate the top 5 list
'He should bat in top...': DC captain David Warner gives huge verdict on in-form Axar Patel's batting position
