'It gets difficult when you become a four-over bowler' - Kapil Dev on how modern day cricketers can cut down on injuries

Being an all-rounder is a tough job. One has to be on their toes all the time during a cricket match. Maybe, that is why there are only a handful of cricketers who are regarded as great all-rounders. The workload becomes immensely tiring if the players are fast-bowling all-rounders. One of the greatest of that kind was Kapil Dev. 

In a recent interaction, Dev, who happens to be a World Cup-winning captain, talked about the fitness aspect of the game. Having played as many as 131 Tests as a fast-bowling all-rounder, Dev only ever missed one Test during his entire career, which was also not because of an injury. In today’s day and age, playing that many Tests without a break becomes more difficult, given the structure of three formats. 

For the youngsters, Dev had only one piece of advice. He said that they need to bowl as many overs as possible. “Today’s cricketers. Their thinking is totally different. If I have to tell something to the young cricketers, go and do running as much as you can. Your muscles will develop. And bowl as much as you can in the nets or in the matches. When you become a four-over bowler, then it becomes very difficult.” Kapil said and was quoted by Hindustan Times. 

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Dev explained that nowadays players spend a lot of time in the gym, which Dev is not in favor of. He believes players can reduce the chance of injury if they can find out different ways to work out other than gym training. Being an all-rounder himself and having such an illustrious career when he represented India for 16 years, meant that Kapil Dev had a tremendous fitness regime. 

“Injuries are going to take place. But if your muscles are developed when you are bowling a lot of overs in the nets, that is important. Gyms should be the option when there is either rain or some special muscle you want to improve. There can’t be a better thing than being on the ground running. That’s how you can reduce the risk of injuries,” Kapil said.