Less than 48 hours after wrapping up a taxing two-Test assignment in Sri Lanka, India’s core centrally-contracted players assembled at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Saturday to undergo mandatory fitness evaluations. The quick turnaround marks the official start of their pre-season preparations, kicking off an intense eight-month domestic and international stretch that will culminate with the 2027 Indian Premier League.
Why BCCI put top players through mandatory fitness tests after SL series?
Despite the heavy workload in recent days, key Test regulars reported in high spirits to establish their physical benchmarks. Mainstays like all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, and opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal were put through their paces. They were joined by T20I captain Shreyas Iyer along with shortest-format specialists including Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, and Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.
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The comprehensive conditioning assessment features rigorous physical drills designed to gauge endurance, speed, and agility. Players are being evaluated through the 'Bronco Test,' a timed 2-kilometer run, the traditional Yo-Yo test, alongside high-intensity, sport-specific exercises such as running between the wickets.
The 'Bronco Test' serves as a key endurance benchmark, requiring players to perform continuous shuttle sprints between cones set at 0m, 20m, 40m, and 60m. Completing five non-stop sets covers a total distance of 1,200 meters, which athletes are required to finish within five and a half minutes. This sits alongside established standards like the Yo-Yo test, where the target score remains 16.5—and a 2-kilometer run that must be completed under the 10-minute mark.
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Bumrah, Pandya, Reddy to undergo fitness tests after rehab
Not all key players participated in the initial testing, however. Key figures like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Nitish Kumar Reddy will only take part once cleared by medical staff, as they are currently undergoing rehabilitation. Meanwhile, seamers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were granted temporary exemptions to manage their workload following heavy bowling spells in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka. On a positive note, Prince Yadav has recovered from the hamstring issue he picked up during India’s tour of the UK and is now cleared for selection.