Bengaluru: BCCI scrutinises fitness protocols after player found overweight
Concerns Over Player Fitness Monitoring
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is reportedly revising its player fitness monitoring system, introducing stricter benchmarks and a standardised Bronco Test. This comes after pacer Harshit Rana was found to be overweight following his clearance for the England tour, alongside a series of injuries affecting other key players.
Reports indicate that Rana was four kilograms over his ideal weight despite being approved for selection. A source within the BCCI mentioned that the Indian team management identified his overweight status. The Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has since informed Rana that his weight should not exceed 96 kg; he currently weighs 94 kg and is expected to be cleared in the coming week. However, he was 97 kg when initially cleared for the UK tour.
The situation has prompted questions regarding the coordination between the Indian team’s medical staff and the CoE in assessing player fitness. These concerns arise as India has experienced multiple injury setbacks involving players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Nitish Kumar Reddy. It has been suggested that the medical teams at the CoE and with the Indian squad have faced challenges in working together effectively to monitor player fitness.
New Fitness Benchmarks Introduced
Following the appointment of Adrian Le Roux as India‘s strength and conditioning coach last year, the BCCI transitioned from the Yo-Yo Test to the Bronco Test as its primary fitness assessment. Initially, there was no consistent benchmark for this test, with varying standards applied to different players. This is now set to change.
The BCCI has reportedly established a fixed benchmark for the Bronco Test, requiring players to complete it within 5 minutes 15 seconds to 5 minutes 20 seconds to be deemed fit for selection. Additionally, contracted Indian cricketers will also need to complete a 2 km sprint within 9 to 10 minutes.
There have been reports of inconsistencies in fitness assessments. A source indicated that the CoE had previously set different baseline parameters for players over the past year, with some senior players reportedly given more lenient targets to pass fitness tests. The CoE staff had also cleared players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy, reportedly to meet the team management’s requirements for player availability.
Furthermore, some regular Indian players were reportedly not fully informed about the new fitness protocols. Mohammed Siraj was reportedly surprised when asked to undergo the Bronco Test at the CoE before the team’s departure for the Sri Lanka tour.
Impact on Team India and Upcoming Series
The issues surrounding player fitness management and recovery processes have come under scrutiny, particularly with Harshit Rana‘s fitness clearance being a significant point of concern. Rana had sustained a knee injury during a warm-up game against South Africa ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier in the year.
The 24-year-old pacer, who has played in 2 Tests, 14 ODIs, and 14 T20I matches, missed the entire IPL 2026 season after undergoing knee surgery. He was subsequently fast-tracked back into the Team India squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan after his surgery in June. It is believed that he was still overweight after his recovery period.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has reportedly raised questions with new Team India physio Kamlesh Jain regarding the injuries and declining fitness standards. Rana was sent back to the CoE in Bengaluru from the England tour due to severe cramps, and not an injury, and was also found to be four kilograms overweight. The upcoming India versus Sri Lanka series will mark Shubman Gill‘s side’s first campaign in the WTC 2025-27 calendar this year.
Source: m.rediff.com
