How strength & conditioning coach Sunny ‘scouted’ J & K’s champions

Sunny Verma’s designation says he is the strength and conditioning coach of the Jammu and Kashmir cricket team. However, his contribution goes far beyond keeping the players physically match-fit during the cricketing season.

Behind the scenes, he has been instrumental in spotting raw talent in his home district. In an exclusive conversation with the The Hindu, Sunny spoke about his approach, the bond he shares with the team members, and how he met players while watching tennis-ball cricket “talent hunts” in Jammu district — the ones who eventually became key members of the victorious Ranji Trophy side that humbled Karnataka in Hubballi on Saturday.

“I used to watch tennis-ball cricket near my village in Jammu, and some of the current squad members were part of those games. That’s where I first met Umran [Malik], Yudhvir [Singh], Sunil [Kumar], and a few others,” Sunny recalled with a smile. “Watching them, I could see their potential. It’s been incredible knowing them from those early days to now, and seeing them be a part of a Ranji Trophy-winning team. We all share an amazing rapport,” added the 33-year-old.

“Everyone has become very professional now. When I came on board, there was a lot of work to do — areas that needed improvement. I sat down with Mithun [Manhas] sir and Ajay [Sharma] sir to discuss how we could develop the team. They brought a wealth of experience from playing at a high level, which helped shape our approach.”

Sunny explained how he made J & K an ‘unbreakable’ unit. “The key is the off-season. During that period, we focus on players’ work capacity. The association (JKCA) has been very supportive, providing all the tools we need. Remarkably, over the past two years, no player in the team has suffered a significant injury. Even the NCA acknowledged this achievement,” added the BCCI Level-1 certified coach.

“My goal is to make the J&K team the fittest in India. When I joined, I noticed teams like Karnataka had excellent fitness culture, and I wanted our side to reach that level. Over five years, we’ve developed a culture where players train even in the off-season. I lead all sessions myself, thanks to the strong relationship I share with the boys.”