It’d take at least six-eight weeks for India to play international cricket: Bharat Arun

Bharat Arun, Team India’s bowling coach, reckons that the national side will be needing around six to eight weeks before they resume playing international cricket. Though the restrictions in the lockdown phases have been loosened, apprehensions remain on what the future holds. The Indian players haven’t played competitive cricket since the tour of New Zealand earlier this year.

Their ODI series against South Africa and the cash-rich IPL had to be shelved due to the coronavirus pandemic. The 57-year-old Arun is hopeful that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would be arranging a tournament for them before they play at the highest level.

“It’d take us at least 6-8 weeks for us to play international matches, whereby we’d be first working on the skill, and fitness in the camps and then we’ll progress onto match simulations, and hopefully the BCCI can organize a tournament just before we play the international matches, that would be great for us,” Arun was quoted as saying in ‘Lockdown But Not Out’ series by FanCode.

I’m not worried about the bowlers: Bharat Arun

Arun, who’s contract was extended after the 2019 World Cup, said that the lockdown phase could work as a blessing in disguise for the bowlers. It’s because he feels that not only the bowlers would get enough time to work on their strength and stamina, but also recover from whatever injury concerns they have had.

“I’m not worried about the bowlers because they’ve had ample time in the last 2 months, to work on strength and their fitness. Very rarely does an international cricketer, especially our bowlers, would get this kind of time to work on their fitness. Also, it is a wonderful opportunity for them to get over the little niggles, that they may have got over the long season,” he added.

Arun was a part of the support staff when India crashed out of the 2019 World Cup after the loss against New Zealand in the semis. Recalling the times, Arun said it hurts them and he also put emphasis on the need to have a plan. “To win a World Cup, I think we need to really plan well and how far we execute our plan,” he added.