Cricket Training an IPL Special with Chinmoy Roy

Indian Premier League is undoubtedly the single most money spinner among tournaments recognized by ICC.

So much so, that the global recession notwithstanding, its stakes are still high. When the other cricket boards are grappling with cash crunch the Indian board, even under the unprecedented hammering from Covid scenario has IPL to salvage its coffer. The desert storm is just days away. All the franchise teams are gearing up in Dubai, the home away from home that raises a question - why India’s own league is played abroad.

The kids in India are literally at home for months together. It’s a jail like surveillance. Now with the IPL itinerary flashed in TV they have something to cheer for. The training grounds in some parts of India have opened up. Now some, like the three kids in this episode, can show their exuberance in the ground.

They want to field like Eoin Morgan, Virat Kohli, Chris Lyn and A B Devillers. And they know, to snap those classic catches one has to be super fit. Jonty Rhodes in his educational fielding video has said that one needs to think about the way the ball comes in the field and replicate it during practice. Adding to what Jonty said, if we blend an agility aspect into the fielding drill it adds flavour. In this episode I dished them the flavour. They savoured it.

Drill 1.

Set up –

• Place marker-1 as a starting block.
• 2 metres from the marker-1 place three mini hurdles in straight line each about 2 feet apart.
• Diagonally 10 metres from the last hurdle place marker-2
• Place marker-3 straight ahead of marker-2 at 10 metres distance.
• Place a stump diagonally at 10 metres distance from marker-3.
• The distance between the marker-3 and marker-1 is again 10 metres.
• Take 5-6 cricket balls

Technical cue

• When through the hurdle, stay on the balls of the foot. Stay well balanced without falling over.
• First try to reach the ball without diving. Throw your body when you can’t reach.
• While throwing the body make sure you lower your centre of mass to avoid impact force from ground.

Reps and sets

• Do 6 reps. Rest 2 minutes. Do 2-3 sets.

Drill 2

Set up

• Place 5 agility hoops side by side without any space between them.
• Place two stumps at two ends 18-20 metres apart like in cricket pitch.
• The stumps are diagonally at 20 metres distance from the hoops.
• Take 5-6 cricket balls

Technical Cue

• Follow the same technique on the hoop as the hurdle fast feet in drill 1.
• During running between the wickets focus on turning speed at both end.
• During turn keep more than double the hip width between two legs. It will give a stable base to transfer weight

Reps/sets

• 3 reps in the hoop. Then swap with partners who are running between the wickets. Rest 1 minute. Do 3 sets.