LIFE WILL BE TOUGH IN THE POST-PANDEMIC PERIOD
These are dicult times for all of us. The coronavirus pandemic has not only brought life to a standstill, it has also hampered our preparation for next year’s 50over World Cup.
Usually, we start preparing well in advance for a major tournament. So ideally, our training should have got underway by now for next year’s World Cup. But then, we don’t have much to do under these circumstances.
For players like us who only feature in the 50over format, it is also challenging because it takes time to peak. It’s not easy to come from a long break and be in perfect form.
We also haven’t played Oneday Internationals since November last year — against the West Indies. After the tour to the Caribbean, our focus shifted to the Twenty20 World Cup, and we were hoping to regroup after the T20 tournament got over.
But there hasn’t been any cricketing activities since March ■ — that was the last time India’s women’s team took the eld, against Australia in the nal of the T20 World Cup.
Even though we are training constantly, match tness is something dierent. So, life will be tough in the postpandemic period. And the only way to overcome this phase is to be mentally strong.
In order to maintain health and hygiene, there will be quite a few restrictions, the most important being the ban on the use of saliva. As a fast bowler, we are used to using saliva to shine the ball, so it is not easy to change habits overnight. But we need to deal with it and come up with a new innovation. For that, regular practice will be key.
The game will change for sure — there will be no celebrations, teammates need to maintain social distances — but the only positive will be the fact that we will at least play the game again.
The most important factor, however, will be visibility. If the matches are played in empty stadiums, streaming the game on various platforms will be key. That will not only generate interest among fans, but will also help us sustain.
Times are tough, for sure, but I am condent that this phase, too, shall pass.
Times are tough, for sure, but I am condent that this phase, too, shall pass.