The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduces the Bronco Test to measure the fitness levels of their players who can represent Team India in the near future. Asia Cup 2025 is knocking on the door, but for Team India, the acid test can be during the ICC T20I World Cup in 2026.

Before that, the Men in Blue will have to face top cricketing nations like Australia and South Africa. In modern-day cricket, fitness plays a big role in every cricketer's career. There are some controversies around the Bronco Test, which BCCI already has initiated. As per the latest claims, Virat Kohli is the only player who completed his fitness test in England, while most players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, and Mohammed Siraj, underwentthe process in Bengaluru. As per the latest information, most of the players have successfully met fitness parameters, and some of them might have completed only partial tests. It's worth mentioning that the first phase of the Bronco Test is based on recovery patterns and basic strength.

Another phase of the test is yet to be arranged, when cricketers who sustained injuries or are in rehab will undergo the process. KL Rahul, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Reddy, and Rishabh Pant can be the candidates to take part in the second phase. 

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Reports submitted to BCCI 

List of cricketers tested fully or partially: Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Jitesh Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Rajat Patidar, Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Mukesh Kumar, Hardik Pandya, Sarfaraz Khan, Tilak Varma, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Dhruv Jurel, Shardul Thakur, Washington Sundar, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.

After the first phase of the test, a team of physio experts has submitted reports to BCCI, as per the latest claims.

The captain of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Rajat Patidar, who helped the franchise to win their maiden trophy of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2025, has shared a heartfelt message for the fans to break the silence on the stampede case of Bengaluru during the victory parade. The movement left 11 people dead and 75 injured, casting a dark shadow on the joyous moment.

Patidar, who replaced Faf du Plessis to become the new captain of the franchise during the previous edition, reckoned that they, in the RCB side of the IPL, would always want to stand by the people of the city. He aimed to hold hands with each other and find their strength again.

See Also: 'Something tragic...'- Virat Kohli reflects on Bengaluru stampede case during IPL 2025 victory parade

“Every time I walk out for RCB, it’s with passion, and that passion comes from you. From your love, your belief, and your unwavering support. You’ve always stood by us. And from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know that we stand with you, too. You’ve all been in my thoughts and prayers. With all of us holding on to each other, we’ll find our strength again.” Patidar expressed during an interaction with the franchise.

Rajat Patidar expects to ‘hold on to each other’ post Bengaluru stampede case

The 32-year-old has overall clubbed 1111 runs in the 38 IPL innings for the RCB side at an average of 30.86 and a strike rate of 154.30 with the help of nine half-centuries and one century at the best score of unbeaten 112 runs. Last year, the right-handed batter drilled 312 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 143.77 with two fifties.

“Every time I walk out for RCB, it’s with passion, and that passion comes from you. From your love, your belief, and your unwavering support. You’ve always stood by us. And from the bottom of my heart, I want you to know that we stand with you too. You’ve all been in my thoughts… pic.twitter.com/QaguHz2mw1

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 3, 2025

Along with Patidar, the former leader of India and the franchise, Virat Kohli, also shed light on the incident. He reflected on how the celebratory and winning celebration turned into sorrowful faces, as the franchise shared its thoughts on X (formerly known as Twitter).

“I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect, and responsibility.” RCB quoted Kohli as saying.

Since the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who won their maiden title, the fans have been eagerly waiting to see the former Indian captain, Virat Kohli, back in action for the national side. Having already taken retirement from the shortest and longest formats of the game, his only aim remains towards the 2027 ODI World Cup. 

Kohli is the second leading run-getter for the Blue Brigade in the 50-over format with the help of 14181 runs in 290 innings at an average of 57.88 and a strike rate of 93.34, with the help of 74 half-centuries and 51 centuries at the best score of 183 runs. He would look to be in fine rhythm and form during the upcoming World Cup.

See Also: 'Something tragic...'- Virat Kohli reflects on Bengaluru stampede case during IPL 2025 victory parade

But just nine months before the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia down under, the eyes are on the fitness status of the veteran player. Kohli reportedly completed his fitness assessment in England, making him the only Indian player to undergo the testing. The Delhi-born is currently in London and was permitted to complete his fitness under supervision.

BCCI takes special treatment for Virat Kohli’s fitness assessment in London

Rohit Sharma, the 50-over Indian captain, along with the two premier pacers- Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, turned to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for the fitness test. Bumrah and a pre-assigned fitness test given, Hardik Pandya would fly to the United Arab Emirates a few days later for the upcoming 2025 season of the Asai Cup, which begins on September 09.

Most of the Indian players, including KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav, went through the fitness tests at the CoE in Bengaluru. Apart from Kohli, everyone was part of the assessment. Kohli, despite the rule, was permitted to give a fitness test in London.

Post the Australia series, the 36-year-old is expected to be part of the two ODI home series against South Africa and New Zealand. After that, they will again go through a break before next June’s England series in the United Kingdom.

The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain and the stalwart, Virat Kohli, has looked back at the Bengaluru stampede case for the very first time since the tragedy, which took place on June 04 in the streets of Bengaluru. 11 people, present in the victory parade, lost their lives, and several were injured as chaos broke out outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Suddenly, the happy faces turned into sorrow. What was meant to be a celebration for the fans and the team after the end of the 18-year drought of lifting the Indian Premier League (IPL) title quickly turned into tragic. Talking to the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter, RCB shared Virat’s thoughts on the tragedy.

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“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic. I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost and for our fans who were injured. Your loss is part of our story now. Together, we will move forward with care, respect, and responsibility.” RCB quoted Kohli as saying.

Virat Kohli breaks silence on Bengaluru stampede case during IPL 2025 victory parade

Kohli contributed immensely to RCB winning their maiden title of the IPL. The right-handed batter smashed 657 runs in 15 innings at an average of 54.75 and a strike rate of 144.71 with the help of eight half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 73 runs. That was the third successive season of the league when the Delhi-born crossed the 600-run mark.

“Nothing in life really prepares you for a heartbreak like June 4th. What should’ve been the happiest moment in our franchise’s history… turned into something tragic. I’ve been thinking of and praying for the families of those we lost… and for our fans who were injured. Your… pic.twitter.com/nsJrKDdKWB

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) September 3, 2025

RCB could be left homeless due to the tragedy during the next season of the league. In several reports, it was stated that M. Chinnaswamy was unfit to hold the large public events. The report claimed that the design and structure of the stadium are inherently unsafe and unsuitable for mass gatherings.

On the other hand, Kohli completed his fitness assessment before the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia down under. He underwent the test in London, which is a rare move from the BCCI to allow such a stance.

Just nine weeks before the start of the three-match ODI series against Australia down under, the eyes are on the fitness status of the two veteran Indian players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Both have already taken retirement from the shortest format after the T20 World Cup 2024 and made their shocking Test retirement just a few days before the start of the recently concluded England series. 

A few days ago, the current 50-over captain of the Blue Brigade, Rohit Sharma, turned to the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru with Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. By the end of this month, the other experienced members of the side, who are not part of the Asia Cup 2025 squad, including KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja, and Nitish Reddy, are also expected to complete their tests.

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However, in a rare move, the former captain, Virat Kohli, has reportedly completed his fitness assessment in England, making him the only Indian player to undergo testing abroad. He is with his family in London and was permitted to complete his fitness test under the supervision of the BCCI.

Virat Kohli completes fitness assessment under BCCI’s supervision in London

The team of the BCCI physiotherapists and strength and conditioning coaches has already submitted individual fitness reports to the board. The report adds that the senior official of the board didn’t directly address the deviation from the procedure, but confirmed that Kohli would have taken approval for conducting the test overseas.

In the second phase of September, it will include the players returning from the rehab or the RTP, including Rahul, Deep, Jadeja, and Pant, along with all those who missed the first-phase assessments due to injury or illness.

Rohit Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Jitesh Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Rajat Patidar, Ravi Bishnoi, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy, Mukesh Kumar, Hardik Pandya, and others have tested the recovery patterns and basic strength. Most of these players met the fitness parameter successfully with a few completed particle tests.

Sports biopics have always given fans an opportunity to experience their favorite athletes’ journeys on the silver screen. These films not only highlight the struggles and triumphs of legendary players but also inspire millions worldwide.

India has already seen several iconic sports stories portrayed in films. From MS Dhoni’s inspiring rise to Milkha Singh’s unforgettable legacy and Mary Kom’s determined journey, such biopics have struck a chord with audiences. A biopic on ex-India captain Sourav Ganguly is currently in development, adding to the expanding lineup of films honoring celebrated icons from Indian sports history.

Surprisingly, despite being one of the greatest cricketers of modern times, Virat Kohli has not yet been the subject of a confirmed biopic. Given his massive influence on and off the field, fans continue to wonder when Bollywood will bring Kohli’s remarkable story to life for the big screen.

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Virat Kohli’s Inspiring Cricket Journey Still Awaits a Bollywood Biopic:

Actor Gurmeet Choudhary, popular for shows like ‘Ramayan’, ‘Geet – Hui Sabse Parayi’, and ‘Punar Vivaah – Zindagi Milegi Dobara’, was recently asked if he would like to portray Virat Kohli in a future biopic. As a co-owner of a CLT10 team, Gurmeet gave a thoughtful response, sparking curiosity among fans about the possibility.

He said, “ If ever there is a biopic made and I get the chance, I would definitely like to do it. But I think Virat Kohli himself can do better justice to the role because he is such a great actor and is so good looking. He has a huge following. Uska opening hi Rs 200-300 crore lagne wali hai (The film might open at Rs 200 to 300 crore).”

Ravi Bishnoi Talks About the Duo:

Virat Kohli is now focused solely on ODIs, having retired from T20Is in 2024 and Tests earlier this year alongside Rohit Sharma before the England series. Spinner Ravi Bishnoi believes both stalwarts deserve a fitting farewell when they eventually bid goodbye to ODIs, acknowledging their immense contribution to Indian cricket across formats.

Ravi Bishnoi said, “ It is actually shocking, because you always want to see them retire on the field. For such big legends, you want them to leave while still playing—that looks much better. And what both of them have done for India, in my view, there is no one even close.”

He further said, “ You want them to get a good farewell, and maybe they will get that in ODIs as well, whenever they choose to retire. Because no one can tell you when to retire—it's a personal decision. But it was shocking when both of them retired because suddenly it felt like two spots had become vacant. Who will step in to fill that?”

Cheteshwar Pujara on the Future of the Celebrated Duo:

Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara was recently questioned about the future of the celebrated duo. He shared his thoughts on their contributions, highlighting their importance to Indian cricket while also acknowledging the ongoing discussions surrounding their careers and possible retirement decisions.

Pujara said, “ I don't need to give any advice because they are some of the best players in white-ball cricket. Even if they are playing just one format, they are experienced enough to know what is expected of them.”

He further said, “ They are such talented players. Look at the records Virat and Rohit have. They also know when the right time is for them to call it quits. They understand the level of commitment required, and if they are fit enough, they can continue playing international cricket for a long time.”

A test series without Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. In 2012, it was India's first Test series without two legends since 1996. Then, captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, team India was going through a transformation, with a slightly new look in the middle order.

Cheteshwar Pujara returned from injury for the series; Virat Kohli was there, and Suresh Raina was there with Sachin Tendulkar. Virat and Pujara became two pillars over the years for India in the format. Ravichandran Ashwin was then in his prime, taking wickets for fun. The visiting side, New Zealand, had a great chance to dominate Dravid and Laxman-less India, but they did not manage to do the needful.

On September 3, 2012, Men in Blue emerged victorious against the Blackcaps by 5 wickets in Bengaluru, with Virat Kohli as the man of the match for his 103 and 51* run knocks. New Zealand offered a good fight to the home team by scoring 365 and 248 runs in the first and second innings, respectively. After the first innings, the momentum of the match was tilted towards New Zealand because of a century from the skipper Ross Taylor and a 7-wicket haul by Tim Southee. Ravichandran Ashwin's fifer provided the extra thrust India needed to overtake NZ.With only one forty-plus-run inning, the touring team scored only 248 runs in the second inning and offered India a target of 261 runs to win the match. India won the match by 5 wickets. Virat remained unbeaten for 51, and 48-run innings from each of Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper MS Dhoni confirmed the winner of the rivalry. 

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Words after the match

"Virat's batting was superb. The spinners bowled brilliantly. This bowling attack hunts as a pack... Virat fought well and soaked up the pressure," MS Dhoni said after the match. 

"It was a tricky situation when I went out to bat, and I and MS took it ten runs at a time. I needed to be more patient, and it worked. There was more turn today; it was a great cricket wicket. I always love this crowd," Kohli said. 

After his special performance for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Jitesh Sharma got selected into the national side for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which starts on September 09 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Blue Brigade will play their opening game against the UAE on the following day in Dubai.

The 31-year-old has smacked 100 T20I runs in seven innings at an average of just over 14 and a strike rate of 147.05 with the best score of 35. During the IPL 2025, the wicket-keeper batter drilled 261 runs in 11 innings at an average of 37.28 and a strike rate of 176.35, thanks to the best score of an unbeaten 85 runs.

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“I come from a small town, where you give lots of respect to your seniors. You don't intrude on their personal space - For me, just talking to him is a big deal. I know Virat bhai’s stature, so I would try not to intrude on his personal space or bother him unnecessarily.” Jitesh revealed during a recent interaction on TOI.

Jitesh Sharma shares bond and respect with Virat Kohli ahead of Asia Cup 2025

Jitesh, during his young and old days, didn’t have a coach and took on watching the YouTube videos of the former Australian batter, Adam Gilcirst, and India’s Sourav Ganguly for early advice as he made his national debut at the Asian Games at the age of 29.

“I used to talk to him about cricket only. Out of respect, I maintained my distance. I only wanted to have a meaningful conversation with him.” Jitesh expressed that he credited his childhood friends, his former Vidarbha captain, Faiz Fazal, his mentor Dinesh Karthik, and Ruchir Mishtra, the former TOI journalist, who passed away due to Covid-19.

The Maharashtra-born, who has collected 2886 runs in 127 innings of the T20s at an average of 27.22 and a strike rate of 152.29 with 11 half-centuries and one century at the best score of 106 runs, will be a valuable member for the Blue Brigade in the lower order.

On September 2, 2019, Team India whitewashed the West Indies as soon as they knocked down their last wicket in the second innings at Kingston. The match was remembered for a long time because of Hanuma Vihari and Jasprit Bumrah.

Vihari was the man of the match for his contributions with 111 and an unbeaten 53-run innings. Bumrah claimed a hat-trick and took 6 wickets in the first innings to set the tone perfectly for India to win the match with ease. Though, in the second innings, the pacer got only one wicket. The West Indies, the home team, faced batting faults in both phases of the game. After making only 117 runs in the first essay of the test, they tried to rectify their faults in the second. But they clearly lacked quality against the Indian bowling attack. They could only get 210 runs while they were chasing a target of 468.

If we talk about India's batting performances in the match, then it was mainly a team effort with Vihari's century on top. Then the skipper of India, Virat Kohli, opener Mayank Agarwal, and surprisingly pacer Ishant Sharma played fifty-plus knocks as well. With their effort, India registered 416 runs in the first innings. Then, when they came to bowl, Bumrah clinched 6 wickets to break the host's will to win the match. Ishant, Mohammed Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja too did their bowling duties with perfection. In their second innings, Ajinkya Rahane provided the perfect accompaniment to Hanuma by scoring an unbeaten 64. 

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"We played good cricket, and getting the result in the manner you want is crucial for the team. While batting there were some tricky situations, but it took some character from the boys... "It was an innings full of grit," Virat Kohli said after winning the match and series. 

Summary of the match:

India: 416 & 168/4d

West Indies: (T:468) 117 & 210

India won by 257 runs.

The India and Lucknow Super Giants’ spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, has shared his views on the Test retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both took retirement in a span of a week before the five-match Test series against England away from home. Both also made the same decision after winning the T20 World Cup 2024.

Bishnoi, who appeared on the podcast Game Changers on YouTube, released a video where the spinner shared his reaction to the retirement of the legendary veteran duo. Virat Kohli finished with 9230 runs in Tests at an average of 46.85, while Rohit ended with 4301 Test runs in 116 innings at an average of 40.57.

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“It is actually shocking, because you always want to see them retire from the field. For such big legends, you want them to leave while still being on the field; that looks much better. And what both of them have done for India, in my view, there is no one even close.” Ravi Bishnoi expressed on the YouTube channel.

Watch: Ravi Bishnoi aims to see farewell match for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Rohit and Kohli have been playing the 50-over format for the national side. Their last competitive game came in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 as they eye a feature in the three-match ODI series against Australia down under. Both are trying to stay available for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

“You want them to get a good farewell, but maybe they will get that in ODIs as well, whenever they leave, whenever they want to. Because no one can tell you when you will retire. But it was shocking when both of them retired, because suddenly you feel like two spots have become empty, who will come and fulfill that?” Ravi Bishnoi addressed.

Bishnoi also shed light on the young RR batter, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who impressed the spectators and the fans with a fine century. “It is challenging against everyone now, but his talent really deserves appreciation. Right now, he is doing really, really well. You must have seen in England also, he broke the age-group record by scoring the fastest 100, and in the IPL also, he scored a 100 in 34–35 balls.” Bishnoi concluded.