Our latest student story features Yuvraj Salvi, a Strength & Conditioning Coach at Tripura Cricket Association and a graduate of the MSc in Performance Coaching at Setanta College.
Yuvraj discusses his journey from professional cricket to coaching, building a performance culture in grassroots sport, and his vision for the future in athletic development.
From the Pitch to the Weight Room
Yuvraj’s journey into strength and conditioning began from a setback that became the spark for a new direction.
“I was a professional cricketer playing for various competitive teams in India. At the age of 16, I started to develop functional scoliosis, and I was in the Peak Height Velocity phase at the time,” he explained.
This led to an opportunity in Sydney, where he was introduced to S&C for the first time. “That is when I realised the field is of great value in athletic development, injury management, and prevention.”
Witnessing first-hand the difference scientific training and rehabilitation could make, Yuvraj decided to pursue strength and conditioning to fill a gap he experienced as an athlete. “Back then, there were not many professionals in the field of S&C in India. I took this profession up to provide help and support to the athletes which I didn’t get during my playing days.”
Leading Performance in Tripura
Now serving as the Strength & Conditioning Coach at Tripura Cricket Association, Yuvraj’s focus extends far beyond day-to-day training.
“Tripura is a developing team with many talented players. As of now, I’m trying to build infrastructure and a training culture among the athletes,” he said.
His work includes everything from programme design and periodisation to mentoring new S&C coaches. “I’m also involved in developing a greater number of local S&C coaches in the state who can then apply S&C principles at the grassroots level. This will ensure long-term athletic development and the practice of the highest standards in the coming years.”
Yuvraj also collaborates with multidisciplinary teams and oversees athlete profiling and performance assessments.
A Scientific and Strategic Approach
Cricket’s complex, congested schedule presents unique planning challenges, particularly with unpredictable match calendars. Yuvraj structures a flexible but data-informed weekly model.
“I do a weekly periodised model based on skill load and match demands. We have access to a High Performance Centre and cricket ground where we run our conditioning sessions. At the end of the day, all the data is collected and logged in the Athlete Monitoring System to make informed decisions for the next session or week.”
Monitoring fatigue and minimising injury risk are vital parts of his role. “We use the Athlete Monitoring System for senior teams and Excel or Google Forms to track wellness and fatigue. Starting this early helps build athlete awareness and habits for managing their workload.”
Though cutting-edge tech like GPS may not be widely available, Yuvraj makes effective use of what he has. “I use My Jump Lab for testing my athletes. Whatever is available and the organisation can afford, we go ahead and implement.”
Overcoming Challenges in Indian Cricket
While budget constraints are well known, Yuvraj believes a bigger hurdle is education.
“The first problem in India is budget. But the greater problem is the lack of awareness around the value that an S&C coach brings to a team,” he said. “In India, skill coaches have always been god to athletes and academies. So first, it was important to educate the skill coach on how an S&C coach can help develop an athlete.”
It’s an approach rooted in collaboration and coordination — one he’s working hard to instil across the system.
A Valuable Learning Experience
Yuvraj has found the knowledge and networking opportunities from Setanta invaluable.
“I got detailed exposure to technology, both in theory and practicals conducted in Bangalore. I also connected with premium quality S&C coaches who were my classmates, as well as Dr Liam Hennessy and others through the course.
It was quality knowledge that I use in my current practice, and valuable networking that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Advice for Aspiring S&C Coaches in Cricket
Drawing on years of experience, Yuvraj shared five key lessons for those looking to enter the industry:
- “Build a strong academic background. There’s plenty of knowledge online, but enrolling in structured courses and workshops — like those from Setanta College — makes a big difference.”
- “Build a network of value. Help others achieve their goals, and it will help you achieve yours.”
- “Coordinate with athletes and the multidisciplinary team. Understand that every person is different and requires a unique approach.”
- “Adapt to new technologies. As the world changes, automation can simplify data gathering and help S&C coaches deliver meaningful insights.”
- “Help build a high-performance culture in your organisation. Share ideas on how India can reach the standards of Europe, the US, Australia, and China.”
Looking Ahead
As India continues to embrace performance science in sport, Yuvraj is committed to ensuring it’s accessible from the grassroots up. His vision is ambitious — but deeply grounded in experience.
“My goal is to help India become a global sports leader by developing S&C systems that start from the ground level and grow to elite performance,” he said.
