In an exclusive conversation with InsideSport, former India cricketer and outspoken voice Yograj Singh has blamed modern-day gym training for the spate of injuries to India’s premier player, notably Jasprit Bumrah. According to Yograj, the increasing emphasis on weight training is a misguided trend that is doing more harm than good.
“For God’s sake…” Yograj Singh on gymming
Yograj believes the gym routine, particularly heavy lifting, is unnecessary and even harmful for young cricketers. He questions the stiffness of muscles that follows from lifting heavy weights. In comparison, cricketers should be flexible like “gymnasts”, as per the former cricketer-turned-coach.
“I am shocked that cricketers go to the gym,” said a shocked Yograj Singh to InsideSport. “The gym is meant for when you are 35-36 years old. Otherwise, your muscles are going to be stiff. But somebody should know what he’s doing. Your strengthening starts from the age of 36-37 when you are going down. Then I can understand the gym will work.
“But today, youngsters are going to the gym. That is why we have injuries. I can say that about 30-40 years ago, injuries were zero. Because in cricket, you need a very flexible, gymnast-like body. Do things with bodyweight like pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups and core (work). But please, for God’s sake, stop sending cricketers to the gym.“
As we all know, fast bowlers are most accustomed to injuries, considering their workload and the toll they take on their bodies for doing the heavy lifting. Hence, someone like Jasprit Bumrah, who has an unconventional action as well, has been at the receiving end of multiple injuries in his career. Citing Bumrah’s example, Yograj claimed that these injuries to modern-day cricketers are due to gymming.
Using Bumrah’s injury history to make his point, Yograj said, “Bumrah has been injured four times. You know why? That (gym) is the reason. There are other cricketers as well. Mohammed Shami. Hardik Pandya. You don’t have to do bodybuilding. Back in the old days, West Indian bowlers like Michael Holding at that time they were all flexible. Viv Richards didn’t go to the gym until he was 35.”
Sehwag echoes, Virat Kohli disagrees
Interestingly, Yograj’s sentiments echo those expressed earlier by Virender Sehwag. “You see the players these days—Virat Kohli and others—posting videos of lifting 50-60-70 kg weights during a series, which actually increases the chances of injury,” Sehwag had said while speaking to Cricbuzz, referencing advice he got from Sachin Tendulkar about focusing on light weights and rhythm.
However, not everyone agrees. Kohli himself has led Indian cricket’s fitness revolution since becoming captain in 2014. His training model, backed by sports science and physiologists, includes weight training alongside flexibility, mobility, and endurance work. Basu Shankar, who was India’s strength and conditioning coach for years, batted for weight training as well. He’s been with RCB since 2009 as well.
With year-round cricket now the norm, players are expected to maintain peak physical condition across formats and continents.
INSIDESPORT EXCLUSIVE
Yograj Singh Said:
“I am shocked to see players go to the gym. We see so many injuries because players are going to the gym. Bumrah has been injured 4 times, you know why? Because he goes to the gym. Same for players like Mohd. Shami & Hardik Pandya”… pic.twitter.com/zJ4meTxjrL
— InsideSport (@InsideSportIND) June 17, 2025
The post “Stop sending cricketers to gym”: Yograj Singh blames lifting weights for Bumrah’s injuries appeared first on Inside Sport India.