India’s Asia-Cup-bound players have begun arriving in Bengaluru for a six-day conditioning camp that begins on Thursday at the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s (KSCA) Three Ovals campus in Alur.
While fitness parameters of players, particularly those who returned from the Caribbean earlier this month, will be a key focus area, the camp also aims to serve as an exercise in team bonding before the focus shifts to the final stages of World Cup preparation.
Fifteen of the 18 players – the exceptions being Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna (all of whom are set to arrive in Bengaluru from Dublin late on Thursday – will undergo fitness assessments followed by a few indoor sessions on the opening day. From Friday onwards, players will be divided into batches for the outdoor conditioning and skill-based programmes.
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ESPNcricinfo understands the senior players, who didn’t take part in the T20Is in the Caribbean, were given personalised fitness and diet plans over the past two weeks. While this practice isn’t unique, India have been especially mindful of workloads keeping in mind the slew of injuries to key players over the past couple of years.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, the NCA’s medical team is believed to have been happy with Rahul’s batting workload but is carefully monitoring his wicketkeeping load; he is believed to have complained of soreness after one of the practice matches organised by the NCA last week.
The team is expected to depart for Colombo from Bengaluru on August 30. India, who open their campaign against Pakistan in Pallekele on September 2, can play a maximum of six matches if they reach the final. The Asia Cup will be followed by three ODIs at home against Australia before India begin their World Cup campaign.
Shashank Kishore is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
Source: ESPN Crickinfo