Knee injuries are a significant concern for cricket players, impacting their performance and overall career longevity. Dr. Vikram Sharma, a highly respected Dope Control Officer with BCCI, Sports Injury Specialist for the Rajasthan Cricket Association, and President of the Indian Association of Sports Medicine, has extensive experience in treating these injuries. As the Head of the Sportsmed - Arthroscopy and Sports Injury Department at Fortis Hospital Jaipur, he provides insights into the prevention, treatment, and recovery of knee injuries in cricket.

Common Knee Injuries in Cricket:

1. Ligament Injuries:

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries: Often occur due to sudden changes in direction, jumping, and landing awkwardly.

Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) Injuries: Typically result from a direct blow to the outer knee, causing the inner knee to stretch or tear. Injury scenario – at fielding  area fielders often colloid while trying to take a catch – may result ligament tear due to direct blow .

2. Meniscus Tear – (Knee cushion injuries)

These are common in cricket due to the twisting and turning movements on knee joint . Meniscus tears may be minor tears means grade 1 tear which may be treated with conservative methods , to more severe injuries like grade 3 or grade 4 tears requiring surgical intervention.

3. Patellar Tendinitis - pain at front of knee

Also known as - Jumper’s Knee , this injury is common in bowlers and fielders due to repetitive jumping and running movements which leads to inflammation and pain at front of knee joint .

4. Cartilage Injuries – injury to smooth cover of knee joint 

These can result from direct impact or repetitive stress, leading to pain, swelling, and difficulty in knee movement. Its sometimes very common on under surface if knee cap specially if bowlers change its bowling action .

Case scenario – A young bowler got crackling in knee with knee pain and in history  reason found was faulty bowling action and recent change in bowling action from front on to side on .

5. Bursitis:

Inflammation of the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction in the knee, often caused by repetitive kneeling or direct trauma.