Published Paper Details:

Body composition plays a crucial role in the performance, health, and fitness of athletes, including cricketers. This study aimed to examine and compare the body composition of national-level women cricketers, specifically focusing on the differences between women batsmen and bowlers. A total of 40 participants, consisting of 20 batsmen and 20 bowlers from the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Academy, were assessed using the 7-site skinfold measurement technique to determine body fat percentage (BF%) and lean body mass (LBM). The findings revealed a statistically significant difference in BF%, with batsmen exhibiting higher body fat percentages than bowlers (t = 2.862, p = 0.007). However, no significant difference was found in LBM between the two groups (t = 0.549, p = 0.587). These results suggest that the distinct physical demands of batting and bowling influence body fat composition, with bowlers requiring lower body fat for explosive strength and power, while batters maintain slightly higher body fat levels due to endurance and agility needs. The study highlights the importance of role-specific training and nutrition strategies tailored to optimize body composition and performance for both batsmen and bowlers. Further research with a larger sample size and more detailed performance metrics is needed to deepen the understanding of body composition's role in female cricket performance.