‘Please let me or the BCCI know…': When MS Dhoni warned teammates not to hide injuries after disastrous England tour
Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings teammate, Kamboj, came under the scanner after the young Haryana seamer seemed far out of his usual rhythm during First-Class matches in India. Kamboj hardly clicked 130 kph on the speed gun, with former India spinner R Ashwin questioning his fitness. After conceding 89 runs in 18 overs for a solitary wicket between days 2 and 3, India captain Shubman Gill did not bring Kamboj into the attack on Day 4, when England mounted 669 on the board, the highest-ever Test total in Manchester. Reports had emerged that Kamboj had sustained a shin injury after the India A tour and had not reported to the BCCI's Centre of Excellence for rehabilitation before being declared fit and available for his maiden India call-up.
'I praised Anshul Kamboj yesterday, but I have to say that his bowling speeds were so low, I was quite surprised. I honestly hope he is okay, because he was bowling faster than this in the IPL. He looked like he was struggling a touch. All said and done, the only solution to this (injuries and inefficiency) is to be able to create a bigger pool of bowlers,' Ashwin said on his YouTube channel after Day 3's play.
In 2009, India had a similarly torrid time with injuries and fitness concerns in England as they stepped up to defend their T20 World Cup title in the second edition of the tournament. MS Dhoni's men ended up winning only two league games against Bangladesh and Ireland before losing all three matches in the Super 8s against England, West Indies and South Africa, and crashed out.
Shortly after the horrendous campaign, leaked fitness reports from the then team physio had suggested that India's five senior players had carried various injuries and the issue was exacerbated when opener Virender Sehwag was ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury despite not featuring in any match.
'For me, it is is the team first and then the individuals and I'd hope it's the same with everyone else in the group,' Dhoni was said to have told his teammates.
Dhoni also insisted players to report fatigue and not hide injuries to worsen the situation. 'If rest is the cure for an injury, a cricketer ought to opt for it rather than let fatigue or niggle become a major setback to him and to the team.If anyone wants to take a break from the game, please let me know or the BCCI,' he was quoted as saying.
After coming under fire for the World Cup debacle, the BCCI immediately backed Dhoni on the injury issue. 'Dhoni has every right to advise his boys. Dhoni's plainspeak will ensure that fitness level of the team improves,' the BCCI's then media and finance committee chairman, Rajiv Shukla, was quoted by television channels.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
12 minutes ago
- First Post
Why has N Jagadeesan been picked as Rishabh Pant's replacement during the England Tests?
With Rishabh Pant out, N Jagadeesan has been called up as his replacement. But does Jagadeesan have the credentials to earn a spot in the playing XI for the Oval Test? And did he edge out Ishan Kishan for the role? read more A toe fracture on Day 1 of the 4th Test meant that Rishabh Pant's series is done, and a contingency substitute will join the squad for the Oval Test. As the 4th Test has concluded, and the batters have done an immaculate job to keep India in the hunt to evade a series defeat, the BCCI has entrusted faith in the talents of N Jagadeesan and picked him as the replacement for Pant. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Jagadeesan's call-up has come rather surprising to the keen observers of Indian cricket, as wicketkeepers like Ishan Kishan and KS Bharat were seemingly above in the pecking order. Given that Kishan has been a regular feature in the IPL for many years, the Jharkhand cricketer comes as an alluring option, and reportedly, BCCI was interested in picking him for the 5th Test. So, why did the board zero in on Jagadeesan eventually? As per reports, Ishan Kishan is nursing an injury on his left ankle and thus had no other option but to say no to chief selector Ajit Agarkar. As for KS Bharat, he was not approached by the board. Jagadeesan's record backs his selection The Chennai cricketer came into the fray at the back of a stellar domestic season, particularly in red-ball cricket. In 52 First-Class games, the wicketkeeper-batsman has stockpiled 3,373 runs at a handsome average of 47.50. He has 14 half-centuries and 10 centuries to his name in the domestic circuit. He emerged as a standout player in the previous Ranji season, where he racked up 674 runs in eight matches at a brilliant average of 56.16, notching two hundreds and five fifties in the process. He ended up being the leading run-scorer for his state in the competition. While he has been brought in as an emergency replacement, it will be interesting to note whether he will make it to the playing XI or not for the Oval Test. Dhruv Jurel, who has carried out duties as a substitute keeper in the last two tests, will be in the reckoning as well. Moreover, the team can fall back on KL Rahul, as he has spent time behind the wickets for India in the past.
NDTV
22 minutes ago
- NDTV
CSK Star Quits County Cricket After Just 2 Matches. Reason Is...
Khaleel Ahmed's time with Essex has wrapped up earlier than planned, with the Indian fast bowler heading back home for personal reasons after making just two appearances in the ongoing County Championship. Initially signed for a two-month spell, Khaleel was slated to play six first-class matches along with up to ten List A games in the One-Day Cup. But his stint was cut short after he picked up only four wickets at an average of 64.50 in his two outings. Essex had roped in the left-arm pacer in June, shortly after his impressive 4 for 70 performance for India A against the England Lions in a red-ball fixture. Viewed as a useful addition for the club's red-ball campaign, Khaleel was expected to add depth and experience to the bowling lineup through to late September. Despite the early exit, he was seen as a valuable addition when he arrived. In a statement confirming his departure, Essex said, "While we are disappointed to see him leave, we fully support Khaleel's decision and are grateful for the contributions he made during his time with us." Khaleel, who last represented India in 2019, has featured in 11 ODIs, picking up 15 wickets at an average of 31.00. Domestically, he remains an important part of Rajasthan's bowling attack and was part of last year's Duleep Trophy squad. In his overall first-class career, Khaleel has taken 60 wickets in 22 matches at an average of 30.13. He is also likely to be in contention for the upcoming inter-zonal Duleep Trophy, which marks the start of India's red-ball domestic calendar from August 28. In IPL 2025, Khaleel turned out for Chennai Super Kings, picking up 15 wickets from 14 matches at an economy rate of 9.57. While his performances were mixed, his ability to provide early breakthroughs kept him in the spotlight throughout the campaign.
India Today
38 minutes ago
- India Today
Washington Sundar's father slams selection policy: My son doesn't get regular chances
Washington Sundar's father, M. Sundar, has launched a scathing attack on the Indian selectors, expressing deep disappointment over the lack of consistent opportunities for his son in the national team. His comments come in the wake of Washington's heroic performance in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, where the all-rounder scored his maiden Test century and played a crucial role in India's great has been doing very well consistently. However, people tend to avoid and forget his performances. Other players get regular chances, only my son doesn't get them," M. Sundar told The Times of India. "Washington should consistently bat at number five like he did in the second innings of the fourth Test and get five to ten straight chances. My son was surprisingly not picked for the first Test against England. The selectors should watch his performances," he who made his international debut in 2017 and Test debut only in 2021 under unforeseen circumstances, has featured in just 11 Test matches. Yet, he boasts an impressive batting average of 44.86 and a bowling average of 27.87 - numbers that speak to his utility as a genuine all-rounder. His father recalled how Washington was unceremoniously dropped from the Test setup in 2021, despite standout performances with the bat against England - including an unbeaten 85 in Chennai and a fluent 96 in Ahmedabad, both on challenging surfaces. "My son gets dropped even if he fails in just one or two matches. It is not fair. Washington scored an unbeaten 85 on a rank turner in Chennai against England back in 2021 and 96* against the same opposition in Ahmedabad during the same year," he took nearly three years for Washington to return to the Test side, earning a place in the XI for the fourth Test of the ongoing England series, where he grabbed the opportunity with both hands - a fact that, according to his father, should have long silenced the doubters. The criticism wasn't limited to the national team selectors. M. Sundar also took aim at Washington's IPL franchise, the Gujarat Titans, accusing them of underutilising his son despite his evident match-winning abilities."Even his current team (GT) doesn't give him regular chances. He showcased his calibre in the IPL 2025 Eliminator against Mumbai Indians, smashing 48 off 24 balls. Look at the way Yashasvi Jaiswal has been backed by RR. Washington hasn't been able to enjoy a consistent run even in domestic cricket," he remarked.- EndsYou May Also Like
