Gautam Gambhir’s brand of cricket has always been built on intensity—whether it showed in his batting, his captaincy mindset, or the way he attacked every moment on the field. Even after stepping into a new role as head coach of the Indian men’s team, that same edge, the refusal to back off, remains a defining trait. A former India opener-turned-coach’s fierce determination, though, was not limited to match situations. It also followed him into the physio room, where senior cricket physiotherapist Deepak Sury says Gambhir would repeatedly work through significant pain without pushing back on treatment demands or trying to lower the pressure around his recovery. Sury further revealed that there was a period when medical staff discussed using injections for shoulder problems, yet Gambhir continued to press on through discomfort.
Sury, who previously worked with the Delhi Daredevils franchise before it became the Delhi Capitals, shared these behind-the-scenes insights in an in-depth conversation. Over the years, he has teamed up with a wide range of high-profile Indian cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, and Gambhir, along with international stars including Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard. His experience has also included a stint with the Board of Control for Cricket in India at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).
In the interview, Sury also described what day-to-day work looks like for a sports physio, how major injuries are managed in real time, and why the job becomes especially demanding in environments like the IPL where money and careers are on the line. He explained the mental support side of recovery, the structured approach behind “net practice while injured,” and how decisions on fitness are reached. He also looked back on his entry into the Delhi Daredevils setup around 2010–11, and spoke about what he learned from dressing rooms that included Sehwag and Gambhir, as well as early career impressions of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer.
What a sports physio’s work really involves
When many people picture physiotherapy, they imagine a clinic: machines, electrical stimulation, heat therapies, ultrasound work, and then a set of exercises prescribed by a doctor. Sury said sports physiotherapy is fundamentally different. On match days—especially on the ground—physios generally cannot rely on the “luxuries” of a clinic environment. Instead, the focus is on hands-on assessment and quick decision-making, using practical tools like sprays, tapes, and basic items needed for cuts or minor injuries.
According to Sury, analysis is the most important part of the job. A physio must rapidly identify what kind of injury it is and determine the appropriate next step. The overarching objective is to get the player back on their feet safely and as quickly as possible—an especially high-stakes task in tournaments such as the IPL, where players earn significant amounts and every ball faced or wicket taken carries enormous value. In that setting, the physio’s commitment has to be absolute so the player can return to action without risking further damage.
The process after a serious injury
Sury described how responsibility typically begins with the player’s organization—whether that is a state association, the national board, or a franchise. These bodies cover treatment costs, including surgery and rehabilitation when needed. For the physio, the first job is understanding the mechanism of the injury. Was it a twisted ankle, a concussion, or a muscle tear? Everything must be assessed immediately, and in many cases a decision has to be made within a minute—sometimes even faster—about whether the player can continue, needs to be treated in the dressing room, or must be sent urgently to hospital.
He explained that if the injury can be managed right away, treatment continues in the dressing room. If it is more severe, scans, specialist consultations, and surgery—if required—are arranged immediately. Even after surgery, the physio remains closely involved through rehabilitation until the player is fully fit again.
Why pressure in the IPL can be intense for physios
Sury said that while young physiotherapists always feel pressure at the start, the IPL magnifies that stress. Everyone wants to do well, but the fear of making the wrong call is real in such a high-profile environment. He pointed out that physios may be dealing with players valued at ₹15 crore or ₹20 crore, and an incorrect decision can affect the team financially as well as potentially harm a player’s career trajectory. That is why every choice must be made with caution—medical judgment cannot be driven by panic or pressure.
To illustrate, he recalled a situation involving a finger injury. Around him, people assumed it was a straightforward subluxation—where a joint partially slips out—and suggested it should be pulled back immediately. But Sury’s assessment suggested something else. He immobilised the finger and insisted on scans, which confirmed there was also a fracture. He argued that forcing the joint back could have worsened the fracture and potentially led to surgery later, turning a recovery that might have taken about a month into something much longer.
Rehab is also mental and emotional support
During long injury layoffs, Sury said physios inevitably become more than physical caregivers. He noted that the toughest stage for many players is when injury strikes during a successful period of their career. Modern cricket is intensely competitive—if a player slows down even slightly, others are ready to take their spot. When injured players watch from the sidelines, insecurity often creeps in. They begin questioning selection chances: what if they are not picked again, or what if someone else takes over permanently?
He used Rishabh Pant as an example. Pant was performing strongly before a serious accident kept him away from cricket for a long stretch. During that time, other players emerged. In that kind of scenario, Sury said a physio must support the mind as much as the body—constantly motivating the player, reminding them of their talent, reinforcing that they will return stronger, and helping them maintain a positive mental state.
He also highlighted diet monitoring. Injured players often become less active and naturally crave comfort food. If body fat increases during rehabilitation, it can later affect mobility and match fitness. As a result, Sury said the physio’s role can become holistic—working as therapist, motivator, and diet supervisor, while coordinating between trainers, nutritionists, and coaches.
“Injured but batting in the nets”: how fitness decisions are made
Sury addressed the common fan perception that if a player is batting in the nets, they must be fit enough to play the next match. He explained that fitness is not a switch that flips instantly; recovery happens in stages. When a player is declared fit, it means they are 100% fit—but during the process leading up to that point, tasks are increased gradually based on what the body can handle.
- If a batter is recovering, the physio may instruct them to bat for a specific duration rather than full workloads.
- If the player is a bowler, they may only bowl a limited quota at reduced effort—Sury gave an example of bowling four overs at 50% intensity.
- As days pass, effort and intensity are raised step by step, with overs and workload increasing in line with recovery.
- In Dhoni’s case, Sury said that if the plan is ten overs of batting on one day, later sessions may progress toward power-hitting once the key areas can tolerate the stress. The drills are then tailored so core, shoulder, and leg engagement is rebuilt safely.
- Batting drills can also be shaped around specific rehabilitation needs—for instance, using lunging shots, straight drives, and cover drives depending on which muscle group requires strengthening, including pull-shot based movements when relevant.
Sury said that’s why net sessions can look misleading to spectators. Players may appear to be “fine,” but the recovery structure is still being followed. Ultimately, the physio has the first and final say on fitness, though modern setups involve broader consultation.
He added that these days, physios do not work in isolation. At Delhi and earlier at the NCA, teams began involving trainers and bowling coaches as well. Decisions consider whether the player is pain-free, whether movement patterns are correct, and whether bowling angles look right. He noted that while many people know about the Yo-Yo Test, there are multiple other assessments used as part of the overall evaluation.
How Sury’s Delhi Daredevils journey began
Sury explained that his entry into the Delhi Daredevils environment began around 2010–11. The franchise needed two assistant physiotherapists at the time. He said the head physio had prior experience with the England cricket team, and Sury initially joined for a few days to support during testing sessions. After observing the work, the team expanded the role and eventually asked him to stay for the full season. He described it as a major learning phase, particularly because until then he had mainly worked with domestic cricketers.
At Delhi Daredevils, Sury said he gained exposure to international players from Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. Understanding their bodies, training routines, and injury management methods taught him a great deal, and the experience kept building year after year.
Dressing room lessons from Sehwag and Gambhir
When asked about sharing a dressing room with players like Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Sury said that a professional cricket room does not require comedians—players already have endless stories and humor. But beyond the laughter, he emphasized that there is plenty to learn from players’ experiences with injuries and treatment around the world, including rehab methods that even physios might not know.
Sury specifically noted that Sehwag understood body mechanics exceptionally well. He said that after extensive treatment across many places, Sehwag could identify release points instantly—if a physio touched the wrong muscle during treatment, Sehwag would quickly point out where the correct release point was. He also highlighted Ashish Nehra’s rehabilitation knowledge, saying Nehra could effectively map out a recovery timeline from day one of injury to the return-to-play protocols. In Sury’s view, such players sometimes know as much as physios due to accumulated experience.
Sehwag’s fitness patterns and why balance matters
Sury clarified that Sehwag was mostly fit, but he did experience tight hip flexors and back stiffness. At times, he would also get back spasms. Sury used this to underline a key point about athletes: their bodies must stay extremely balanced. In cricket, being active and consistent is part of doing the job well.
He also explained how fitness changes with age. In the twenties, reflexes work brilliantly, and young players often say they are “super fit.” Sury’s response, he said, is to wait until the mid-thirties—when fat starts building around the sides and reflexes slow down, the challenge becomes completely different.
Gambhir in the physio room
Sury described Gambhir as mentally and physically tough, with a very high pain tolerance. While many players ask physios to reduce the pressure during treatment, Gambhir rarely did. Sury said he could tolerate intense treatment sessions without complaint.
He recalled an episode involving a shoulder impingement. Some doctors suggested injections, but Gambhir chose to recover through exercises and rehabilitation rather than injections. Sury said the dedication during that rehab period was remarkable. He added that while people often notice Gambhir’s intense nature on the field, off the field he is jovial and fun-loving.
Early impressions of Pant and Shreyas Iyer
Sury also spoke about younger players he observed early in their careers, including Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer. He said both were extremely hardworking right from the start. Shreyas Iyer, according to Sury, always trained with seriousness. For Pant, Sury said he had known him since Pant’s Under-16 days.
Sury noted that Pant may look bulky, but he is incredibly fit and strong, and people often underestimate his endurance. He pointed out that scoring 300 runs in a Ranji Trophy match is not easy because it demands constant running, sustained mental alertness, and long periods of physical intensity. Pant, he said, has always been naturally strong, trained hard, and maintained excellent endurance levels.
In closing, Sury said both players weren’t only talented cricketers—they were also very good human beings.
