Forced Break Good Time For India Players to Re-Energise Themselves: Ravi Shastri

The world-wide outbreak of the COVID-19 has brought to a standstill the world of cricket with international and domestic matches put on hold, but for head coach Ravi Shastri the break is a welcome rest for India cricketers, who have been on the road for a continuous stretch.

India have been playing cricket non-stop since the last year and a half and Shastri believes the break will allow the players to recharge their batteries, especially after the long tour of New Zealand, which saw them play five T20Is, three ODIs and two Tests.

"[This rest] cannot be a bad thing because towards the end of the New Zealand tour, you could see some cracks coming up when it came to mental fatigue, physical fitness and injuries," Shastri told Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain and Rob Key on a Sky Sports podcast. "The amount of cricket we have played over the last ten months, that was beginning to take its toll. Guys like me, and some other guys from the support staff, we left India on May 23 for the World Cup in England. Since then we have been at home for 10 or 11 days.

"There are certain players who played all three formats, so you can imagine the toll it has taken on them, especially being on the field, adjusting from T20s to Test match cricket and all the travel that goes with that because we travelled quite a lot. After England, we went to the West Indies, then played South Africa here [in India]. We had a season of two and a half months here and then again went off to New Zealand. So it has been tough but a welcome rest for players."

Immediately after the New Zealand series, not even a week's gap later, India were to take in South Africa, followed by the gruelling IPL. But after the first ODI was washed out, the series was called off before the second game in Lucknow, a news which Shastri admitted was a bit shocking for the team.

"It came as a shock but to be honest, having been on the road during the South Africa series, we guys anticipated it," he said. "We knew something was on the cards as the disease had just started spreading. When the second ODI was called off, we knew something was gonna happen and a lockdown was imminent.

"I think the players knew it was coming, they sensed it in New Zealand. There were apprehensions towards the end of that tour, when flights were coming through Singapore, out of Singapore. By the time we landed [in India], I thought we got out at just the right time. There were only two cases in New Zealand at that time, that has rocketed now to 300. The day we landed, that was the first day they were screening and testing people at the airport. So [we came back] just in the nick of the time."

As players spend time away from the ground, Shastri said they could play a big role in spreading awareness. India captain Virat Kohli has repeatedly posted messages urging people to stay safe and remain indoors.

"As players, you have a lot of responsibility," he said. "That's why the message is very clear that cricket should be last on everyone's mind now," he said. "I think the most important thing is safety and not ensuring just your safety but ensuring safety others as well, by creating a kind of awareness that tells people there is something serious around.

"Virat has done it, a lot of other players have done it by posting certain messages on social media. So it's imperative but all the players were very, very calm. They knew that it's something very serious and there could be a hold up in cricket for some time."