Huge transformation in Indian team's fitness levels: Michael Holding

Former West Indies fast bowler Michael Holding believes he has seen a significant enhancement in the fitness levels of the current Indian team. Besides being considered the modern-day batting great, Virat Kohli is renowned for significantly raising fitness standards as well. Since he took over the captaincy mantle, fitness has become the highest priority on the Indian team management’s checklist. 

The introduction of the yo-yo test marked the beginning of the process. After its inception as a compulsory passing test, the fitness test has clearly shown evidence of optimized fitness levels among Indian players. When you have an inspirational leader like Virat, who has set exacting standards and a high tempo, the teammates around him are bound to emulate those traits.

“Well, it's a totally different era when it comes to Indian cricket. When I played against India, probably two of the players were fit. Now everybody on the field is fit. You see how athletic they are, how dynamic they are," Michael Holding was quoted as saying to the Indian Express. 

While the skill sets have not been altered, Holding feels the transformation now is more along the lines of fitness levels. “The skill level hasn't really changed that much but when you have fitness, and change of attitude along with skill level, obviously the cricket will also change, ” he added. 

The 67-year-old, who has played over 160 international matches for the West Indies, stated that the pitches in Indian domestic circuit have improved significantly, which has undoubtedly helped the players adapt at the highest level. “What has also helped Indian cricket is that a lot of pitches in India, for domestic cricket and cricket in general, have improved. The ball bounces a lot more and since it carries, batsmen are able to cope on overseas pitches. "In my time, once India left India, that was it. The pitches that they played in India were slow and low and it became dusty," Holding concluded. 

[Indian Express input]