N Jagannath Das
For AI Harrsha, the strength and conditioning coach of the Indian women’s cricket team, the World Cup campaign that culminated in glory last Sunday was among the toughest yet most rewarding challenges of his career. As the players celebrated their historic triumph, Harrsha could finally breathe easy.
“This women’s team was very special,” said the 34-year-old former Hyderabad Ranji player, who hung up his boots a decade ago. “Their work ethic was phenomenal. They never shied away from intense training and were always hungry to learn. That was the secret behind their success.”
According to Harrsha, India’s new generation of women cricketers is fearless and ready to take on any challenge. “The Women’s Premier League (WPL) has made a massive impact. It’s given players huge exposure and made them mentally tougher. Even after losing three successive games in the tournament, they didn’t crumble. Instead, they bounced back with renewed energy to beat New Zealand and storm into the semifinals. The rest is history,” he said with pride.
Having worked at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and travelled earlier with the Indian men’s team, Harrsha was handed the women’s team assignment in May this year during their Sri Lanka tour, which also featured South Africa. The initial phase, he recalled, was about understanding their rhythms and needs.
“There’s no big difference between handling men and women players,” he explained. “But physiologically, women’s bodies respond differently. We had to design programs keeping that in mind—especially during critical phases of the month—to monitor recovery rates and training capacity.”
The training plan revolved around three pillars: speed, power, and endurance—crucial for surviving and excelling in a long tournament like the World Cup. “Each player went through tests and got a customised program. The goal was to keep them fresh and injury-free till the very end,” Harrsha said. “Fatigue can derail both performance and morale, so our support staff worked in perfect sync. We ensured clear, single-line communication across all departments.”
He dismissed comparisons with the fitness standards of Australia or England. “We’re as good as any team in the world,” Harrsha asserted. “It’s not about matching others—it’s about playing to our strengths and turning challenges into opportunities.”
Every player, he noted, followed a role-specific regimen. “A batter’s strength and power needs differ from a bowler’s. Even among batters, big hitters like Harmanpreet Kaur or Richa Ghosh train differently from someone like Smriti Mandhana. Similarly, a spinner’s endurance training isn’t the same as that of a pace bowler. Each program was designed to help them execute their skills at the highest level—and to enjoy the grind.”
When asked who was the fittest, Harrsha smiled and refused to single out anyone. “Every player had her own role and strengths,” he said. “Deepti Sharma bowled, fielded, and batted tirelessly. Richa smashed those massive sixes. Smriti produced elegant yet powerful strokes. Harmanpreet led with her explosive hitting. They all stood out in their own ways. We used a lot of medicine ball work to help translate gym strength into on-field performance.”
As India lifted the trophy, Harrsha’s meticulous planning and quiet discipline stood vindicated. His biggest reward, though, was seeing a team that trained hard, believed harder, and finally conquered the world.
