Delhi: The biggest concern in Indian cricket right now isn’t just victory or defeat, but the players’ steadily deteriorating fitness. For some time now, the same story has been playing out repeatedly. Players return from the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Center of Excellence (CoE) declared fully fit, only to be sidelined again after playing a few matches and injured. This problem has now become so serious that the BCCI has decided to make major changes to its entire fitness system. According to reports, the board is now going to completely restructure the CoE’s fitness program to curb recurring injuries in the future.
Until now, different fitness standards were set for players, but under the new system, a uniform basic fitness system is being implemented for all players. The biggest change will be seen in fitness testing. Previously, players’ fitness was assessed using the Yo-Yo test , but now, with the arrival of Adrian Le Ru, the Bronco test has been made the primary fitness standard. The BCCI medical team has determined that to be declared fully fit, a player must complete the Bronco drill in approximately 5 minutes 15 seconds to 5 minutes 20 seconds . Additionally, a 2-kilometer run will also be mandatory within 9 to 10 minutes . The report also claims that some senior players were given relatively easy targets in the fitness test last year. It has also been revealed that players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy received early fitness clearances due to team needs. This is why the entire fitness clearance process is now under question.
The BCCI and team management have also sought an explanation from Indian team physio Kamlesh Jain regarding this matter. Dissatisfaction was also expressed regarding the frequent cramps suffered by players during the England tour. Now, the Board has made it clear that no matter how prominent a player is, if he is not fully fit, he will not be allowed to play under any circumstances. The report also states that many players’ running ability and on-field agility have not returned to their previous levels. Senior batsmen are struggling to run quickly between the wickets during long innings, while fielding standards have also been affected. Citing the example of Harshit Rana, it was reported that when he was cleared for the England tour, he weighed 97 kg , while according to the team management, this was approximately 4 kg more . Now, the CoE has clarified that his weight should not exceed 96 kg , and currently, he weighs 94 kg . Overall, the BCCI has sent a clear message that a place in the Indian team will no longer be based solely on talent, but fitness will also be non-compromising. Players who are not fully fit will find it even more difficult to enter Team India than before.