Having a group of fast bowlers and conserving energy is crucial, says Javagal Srinath

Javagal Srinath, the former India pace spearhead, has underscored the critical importance of having a strong group of fast bowlers and managing their workload to prevent injuries and maintain team effectiveness. The 56-year-old highlighted how the structure of a pace attack directly influences both individual fitness and collective performance.

Srinath drew from his own experience as a pace bowler who spent much of his career as India's primary fast-bowling option without consistent support from other quick bowlers.

"I always felt that fast bowling is about a group of bowlers together. It is about conservation of energy, and you will be able to build a good team. But if you are all alone, you will bowl 16-17 overs and become ineffective. So if you have three-four good quicks, your team is always effective, and the striking ability is far better," Srinath said at a panel discussion during the Events and Entertainment Management Association conclave.

Why multiple fast bowlers matter for team effectiveness

Srinath stressed that inadequate match practice combined with sudden increases in bowling workload create dangerous conditions for fast bowlers. The risk of muscle pulls and ligament injuries rises sharply when a bowler returns to action after limited game time and is asked to bowl extended spells in the middle of a match.

"If you don’t bowl enough and all of a sudden if you are bowling the third spell, that is around 3.30 p.m., you end up pulling a muscle or probably tearing your ligament or hamstring or whatever. So it is important that you play enough, which means good 1000-1600 overs a year that will keep you in good shape," Srinath said.

The importance of consistent bowling workload for injury prevention

Injuries to pace bowlers have emerged as a significant concern in recent times, making Srinath's message about preventive workload management increasingly relevant. His own career was marked by shoulder surgery in 1997, an operation that underscored the physical toll of sustained fast bowling at the highest level.

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Beyond workload management, Srinath reflected on India's cricket journey following the match-fixing scandal of the 1990s. He credited the collective resolve of the Indian team in that period for restoring the sport's credibility and building a winning culture both at home and abroad.

"Post the match-fixing scandal, a lot of things came good to us. I think there was a bit of a resoluteness in every player to really put that image back and prove to the world that cricket was clean. Every individual showed leadership. Then the team started winning not only in India, but also abroad," Srinath said.