Players serious about improving fitness: Kirsten

Bangalore:

Coach Gary Kirsten feels there has been significant improvement in the fitness level of Indian cricketers who on Thursday commenced their four-day camp ahead of tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa.

The players, who assembled for the camp after a six-week break, had a meeting with Kirsten at the hotel here before heading for the National Cricket Academy, where they had gym sessions and fitness drills with some players even trying their hand at badminton in the afternoon.

They are expected to have full-fledged outdoor sessions from on Friday.

"I am very happy with the results today," Kirsten said, adding "compared to what I saw in the fitness camp a couple of weeks ago, there has been significant improvement from every player which means that they are taking it seriously (their fitness)".

He is happy the players have realised the need to improve their fitness level and taken on their responsibility.

Kirsten said the camp was about getting back on track after the break and upping the intensity of practice ahead of the tri-series in Lanka and Champions Trophy in South Africa.

"...individuals are all motivated for playing well for India and I think every one is feeling quite fresh mentally at the moment because they had a good break".

On Ramji Srinivasan, who has joined as the team's trainer for the ODI series in the island nation, Kirsten said he would help in the team's process to take its cricket and performance to the next level.

"It's great. Very energetic person. It's good to have him on board".