Unfit cricketers who defied the norms: Fitness has now evolved into a capstone of cricket and players are first tested on the basis of their agility and flexibility before the cricketing fundamentals kick-off. Recently in a controversial storm where Kohli made it clear that in order for Varun Chakravarthy to be a part of the national team, he will have to first work on his fitness.
It was not the same however when cricket was played a decade ago. We have witnessed a lot of unfit cricketers taking the field and yet coming out with flying colours either with the bat or the ball. There were even occasions of momentary madness in the field that saw unfit players wreaking havoc with insane dives and catches, flying high in the air.
Today’s story will celebrate five such cricketers who haven’t been at the peak of their fitness but yet managed to prise out influential leverages on the cricket field in a particular discipline.
#1 Chris Gayle
If you witness Gayle running between the wickets, you will understand that the Universe Boss is not one of your fittest players to tread the cricket field. He stumbles frequently while running and hobbles in the field both with the bat and the ball. Sadly, that is not the shape that one would love to see one of the best T20 cricketers in the world in. It is known to everyone that if the Universe Boss decides to unleash his fury, even the best of bowlers in the world remain scarred for life.
#2 Inzamam-ul-Haq
The man who got dismissed by being run-out for a staggering 40 times in his international career and was most likely to field in the slip so that he didn’t have to run much, Inzamam was also one of the most effusive batters of the opening decennium of the 21st century. He is Pakistan’s highest scorer in One-Day Internationals while the second leading run-scorer in Test cricket. However, Inzee terrorized the bowlers with his extraordinary strokeplay.
#3 Mohammad Shahzad
One of the most animated cricketers of all time, Mohammad Shahzad who loves to celebrate even the most trivial benchmarks in the most flamboyant ways has been defying norms and odds for a while now. One of the most dynamic batters of Afghanistan who has chronicled a strike rate of 88 plus in ODI and 134.81 in T20’s. He also conjured an average of 33.66 in T20’s and 31 plus in ODI’s. These numbers are a burning ode to his brilliance in the associate roster. Shahzad continues to drive the Afghani batting in the face of herculean odds.
#4 Jesse Ryder
The man who possessed the caliber of becoming one of the best cricketers in the echelons of Black Caps, Jesse Ryder bowed out of the sport due to his dalliance with hedonistic strides and tremendous indiscipline. Despite being a phenomenal opener who would take the world by storm with his explosive batting, Ryder’s fitness was always a concern for the Kiwi opener. He was also an all-rounder but his bowling could not take flight due to his fitness concerns. His gait isn’t one that captains or franchises would like to have under their wings.
#5 Aravinda de Silva
One of the most phenomenal strikers of the ball, Aravinda de Silva heckled the bowlers at volition with an extraordinary volley of strokes. He was one of the most aggressive Sri Lankan all-rounders and played a crucial role in shaping the fortunes of Sri Lanka in the 1996 World Cup that was lifted by the Islanders. However, coming to his shape, it wasn’t one of those ripped physiques that would have ripped through the hearts and the video lists of all the aspirants of crazy body-building.
