I skipped cricket today because of discomfort in my right arm. It was not an easy decision, especially when I was looking forward to playing, but it felt like the right call.
Over the years, I have learned that pushing through the wrong kind of pain usually leads to a longer break later. Match days can be intense on the arm, and if there is already discomfort, adding bowling and fielding stress can make things worse quickly. Taking one day off now is better than being forced to sit out for weeks.
At the same time, I can clearly feel another thing in my body right now: it has been a while since I last lifted, and my muscles are reminding me of that. The soreness is real, and the overall heaviness is a signal that consistency has dipped.
But this also confirms something important - muscles have memory. They respond when you train, and they also respond when you stop lifting. The body does not forget either pattern. If I feed it regular workouts, it adapts and gets stronger again. If I stay away for too long, it reflects that just as quickly.
So today is less about missing cricket and more about listening to my body, recovering properly, and rebuilding rhythm in training. The plan is simple: protect the right arm, return to lifting consistently, and come back to cricket in better shape.