Ex-S&C coach Soham Desai calls Ravindra Jadeja a born athlete

Just recently, the BCCI introduced the bronco test for the Indian players, under the S&C coach Adrian le Roux — where the athletes run distances of 20, 40 and 60 meters. A set involves all the three distances, and the players must complete five sets within six minutes. That is 1200m without rest.

Soham Desai All Praise for Jadeja & Dhoni

Without getting into the details any further, the test helps in gauging the fitness and endurance levels of the players. While it is a wide known fact that Virat Kohli is one of the fittest in the world and not just India, who are the others who can be as good. Former India S&C coach Soham Desai answered it on ‘Ash Ki Baat’.

While talking about the bronco test extensively, and what purpose it solves for the team and each cricketer, Desai went on to talk about two freak athletes who set the benchmark really high. He also highlighted that the work for players is not an overnight thing, but a continuous process that takes time to build over time.

Siraj’s Endurance Was Built Over Time

Soham said, “There are very few like Ravindra Jadeja, who are born athletes, born runners. He is a freak. Similarly MS Dhoni is a freak, but in the strength spectrum.” Going further, he went on to explain how Mohammed Siraj, who wasn’t picked for the Champions Trophy, built his endurance for the five Tests in England, during that time.

“Siraj played 5 Test matches (in England). The plan didn’t come back the moment he landed in London. When he wasn’t picked for India’s squad for the Champions Trophy, there was a conversation with him. It was told to him, you might feel at the moment that it’s a big setback, but when you play in England, you’ll remember that had we built your capacity then, you would have been able to play 5 Test matches instead of 4.

“When a programme is made, it’s not like we’ll have a net session tomorrow and a match day after tomorrow. We have to take a 360-degree view. Take into account what has happened in the last 3 weeks and what we have in place for the next 3. Where’s that player’s level right now? And that’s how the plan is made.”