Mumbai, Aug 8:
Concerned by the rising number of injuries and a perceived decline in the overall fitness standards of the national team, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to introduce a comprehensive overhaul of its player fitness evaluation programme.
The board is expected to implement uniform benchmarks for all centrally contracted players after internal reviews reportedly identified inconsistencies in the existing testing system as one of the factors behind India’s recent fitness struggles.
The proposed changes come in the aftermath of India’s white-ball tour of Ireland and England, where repeated injury setbacks, muscle cramps and player unavailability prompted the BCCI to reassess its fitness protocols.
Reports suggest that the lack of a standardised assessment framework, coupled with inconsistent communication between the Indian team management and the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, has exposed significant shortcomings in the current system.
As part of the revamp, the BCCI is understood to have finalised baseline qualifying standards for the Bronco and 2-km (2K) running tests, both of which are now expected to play a central role in evaluating players’ match readiness.
The benchmark for the Bronco test has reportedly been fixed at around 5.15 to 5.20 minutes, while players will also be required to complete the 2K endurance run within nine to 10 minutes. Previously, the Yo-Yo endurance test, with a qualifying score of 16.5, served as the primary yardstick for player fitness.
The transition to the Bronco test began last year after Adrian Le Roux succeeded Soham Desai as India’s strength and conditioning coach. Unlike the Yo-Yo test, the Bronco assessment places greater emphasis on acceleration, agility and repeated sprint ability. However, despite the shift in testing methods, no common qualifying standard had been established until now, reportedly resulting in varying fitness expectations for different players.
According to a report published by The Times of India, the absence of uniform benchmarks led to situations where some senior cricketers were allowed comparatively relaxed targets to clear fitness assessments.
The report also claimed that the Centre of Excellence occasionally cleared players for selection in accordance with the immediate requirements of the team management, raising concerns over whether all players were meeting the same physical standards before returning to competitive cricket.
The board has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the number of injuries suffered by players over the past few months. India’s team physio Kamlesh Jain is understood to have been questioned by the BCCI and team management regarding the recurring fitness breakdowns, with officials particularly concerned about players experiencing cramps even in England’s relatively mild playing conditions.
Reports further indicate that the management has instructed the medical staff to adopt a more objective approach while assessing players, irrespective of their seniority or reputation. Greater emphasis is also expected to be placed on mobility, fielding standards and running between the wickets after concerns emerged over a decline in athleticism within the squad.
Communication between the Centre of Excellence and contracted players has also reportedly become an area of concern. Several regular members of the Indian team are believed to have been caught unaware by the revised testing procedures. Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, for instance, reportedly faced the updated fitness assessments without prior preparation before the Sri Lanka tour, while the official benchmark figures have only recently been communicated to contracted players.