BCCI fitness rule update: New 2K test parameters explained

Hammered by frequent injuries to players in the Indian side, the medical team at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru is looking to revive the fitness programme. The report claims that the CoE is finally working on standardising base fitness parameters after it emerged that the fitness tests for players were a core reason for the drop.

The Indian team went through a change in fitness testing drills after Adrian Leroux replaced Soham Desai as the conditioning and strength coach last year. The BCCI medical team, comprising the CoE and the Indian team, has struggled to function because it was decided that the Bronco test would be the primary test for assessing fitness rather than the Yo-Yo test.

What's the New BCCI Fitness Rule Update?

The Bronco test didn’t have a base parameter, as the reports of Times of India have added that the BCCI medical team has rolled out a figure of 5.15-5.20 minutes as a base figure to complete the assorted drills to be declared fit enough to be selected after the debacle during the trip to Ireland and England.

Earlier, the BCCI set 16.5 as a marker to clear the basic Yo-Yo test, as the CoE has set a 9–10-minute mark to complete the 2 km running test, which is known as the 2k test.

“The Indian players are not used to the Bronco test. Over the last year, the CoE had set different base parameters for players. It has now emerged that certain senior players were given much more comfortable targets to meet to clear fitness tests.” The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source reported as claimed by TOI.

“The CoE staff had also cleared players like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy to make sure it was delivering players according to team management’s needs.” It added.

The BCCI team management, led by Devajit Saikia, has questioned India’s physio, Kamlesh Jain, for the breakdowns and overall drop in the fitness standards. The team isn’t happy either with the players getting cramped every single time even in the English weather.

How this fitness rule could help the Indian players

It has been observed that the regular Indian players haven’t prepared for the new fitness drills. Mohammed Siraj was caught off guard by the shocking fitness test before the Sri Lanka series.

“It is only now that contracted players have been handed the base parameters of the new tests. The Test regulars were caught off guard by the programme given to them at CoE. The players who are not part of the Test team are now starting to work according to the base parameters.” The reports have been addressed.

Harshit Rana has just recovered from a knee injury. However, there was no clear messaging about the desired fitness levels. Rana had suffered severe cramps and not any injury when he was sent back to the CoE after the third T20I against England.

“The Indian team management flagged that he was overweight by four kgs. The CoE should have been much more vigilant. He has now been told by CoE staff that his weight can’t exceed 96 kgs. He is now 94 kgs and is expected to be cleared next week. But he was 97 kgs when he was cleared to be picked for the Indian team for the UK tour.” It was revealed.