HYDERABAD: A few good men quietly flipped the adage that behind every successful man, there is a woman. So, while the nation rejoices in the World Cup triumph of the Indian women’s team, the support staff quietly bask in reflected glory.
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AI Harrsha , the strength and conditioning coach, is one such unsung hero who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. The 34-year-old Hyderabadi said the team’s attitude, even during the worst phase of the tournament when they lost three matches on the bounce, is what separated India from the rest.
Given the frenetic pace of the tournament, the Hyderabadi reckoned that starting preparations six months prior to the World Cup bore fruit. “Sleep, recovery, nutrition and workload management are the four pillars of any high-performance environment. We made sure the players were tested appropriately and knew exactly what each individual required. And then we tailor-made plans to suit every individual. We made our expectations of the team clear, we wanted them to be the world’s best team,” Harrsha said.
Harrsha began his journey as a S&C coach as a 25-year-old and joined the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru in 2019 after a two-year stint with IPL-franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He started working with the women’s team from Sri Lanka tour in April.
“A World championship is not won when one or two players show intent but when the entire team sings the same chorus. It was most satisfying to see highly skilled athletes open to learn with top-notch work ethics. When all these things fall in place, it makes a world-beating team,” added the former Hyderabad first-class cricketer.
He also lauded the team’s resilience after defeats to South Africa, Australia and England. “The most challenging time was when we lost three back-to-back games. What really helped us was the belief and the unity in the team. The team environment didn’t take a beating.”
Peaking at the right time
It also helped that India peaked at the right time, a factor Jemimah Rodrigues alluded to before the match against Australia in Visakhapatnam. “Our main agenda as a sports science team was to make sure all the players were available for selection for all the games and they had to peak at the right time. There’s no point peaking early and getting exhausted by the end of the tournament. So, our process was to assess them, give them a plan and reassess them because six months is a long time,” he explained.
Shafali’s smooth transition
He also revealed that Shafali Varma, who replaced an injured Pratika Rawal for the semifinals and the final, made a smooth transition. “With BCCI, every contracted player is constantly in touch, and we are aware as to what they’re training. So, her transition into the team looked seamless,” he revealed.
When asked about his memorable moment, he said: “Not only the final, but also the semifinal. We know they’re (Australia) a champion side. That win catapulted the belief of the team significantly going into final.”
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
AI Harrsha , the strength and conditioning coach, is one such unsung hero who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. The 34-year-old Hyderabadi said the team’s attitude, even during the worst phase of the tournament when they lost three matches on the bounce, is what separated India from the rest.
Given the frenetic pace of the tournament, the Hyderabadi reckoned that starting preparations six months prior to the World Cup bore fruit. “Sleep, recovery, nutrition and workload management are the four pillars of any high-performance environment. We made sure the players were tested appropriately and knew exactly what each individual required. And then we tailor-made plans to suit every individual. We made our expectations of the team clear, we wanted them to be the world’s best team,” Harrsha said.
Harrsha began his journey as a S&C coach as a 25-year-old and joined the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru in 2019 after a two-year stint with IPL-franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He started working with the women’s team from Sri Lanka tour in April.
“A World championship is not won when one or two players show intent but when the entire team sings the same chorus. It was most satisfying to see highly skilled athletes open to learn with top-notch work ethics. When all these things fall in place, it makes a world-beating team,” added the former Hyderabad first-class cricketer.
He also lauded the team’s resilience after defeats to South Africa, Australia and England. “The most challenging time was when we lost three back-to-back games. What really helped us was the belief and the unity in the team. The team environment didn’t take a beating.”
Peaking at the right time
It also helped that India peaked at the right time, a factor Jemimah Rodrigues alluded to before the match against Australia in Visakhapatnam. “Our main agenda as a sports science team was to make sure all the players were available for selection for all the games and they had to peak at the right time. There’s no point peaking early and getting exhausted by the end of the tournament. So, our process was to assess them, give them a plan and reassess them because six months is a long time,” he explained.
Shafali’s smooth transition
He also revealed that Shafali Varma, who replaced an injured Pratika Rawal for the semifinals and the final, made a smooth transition. “With BCCI, every contracted player is constantly in touch, and we are aware as to what they’re training. So, her transition into the team looked seamless,” he revealed.
When asked about his memorable moment, he said: “Not only the final, but also the semifinal. We know they’re (Australia) a champion side. That win catapulted the belief of the team significantly going into final.”
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