Within 48 hours of concluding the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, top centrally contracted players of the Indian cricket team arrived at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on Saturday for fitness evaluations ahead of the new domestic season. Keeping the upcoming eight-month-long and intensely busy cricket calendar in view, several regular and senior members of the Test team worked hard on the field for three consecutive days to clear strict fitness benchmarks.
Star Players Who Attended
Several prominent faces of Indian cricket sweat it out during this special camp in Bengaluru. The assessment process saw participation from experienced all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, and opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal. Additionally, T20 captain Shreyas Iyer, short-format specialists Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, and Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad were also among the players who put in hard yards. This entire cricket cycle will run continuously up to the 2027 Indian Premier League, prompting the board to place heavy emphasis on player physical endurance.
What Tests Were Conducted
During this mandatory fitness evaluation, players had to go through multiple challenging stages. The regime included the Bronco test, a two-kilometer run, the well-known yo-yo test, and cricket-specific drills such as running quickly between the wickets. The Bronco test is particularly demanding, where cones are placed at the starting point of zero meters, 20 meters, 40 meters, and 60 meters. Players must run from zero to 20 meters and back, followed by similar runs to 40 meters and 60 meters, completing five sets without stopping. Under this test, a total distance of 1200 meters must be covered within five minutes and 30 seconds. Meanwhile, the benchmark for the yo-yo test has long been fixed at 16.5, while the two-kilometer run of 2000 meters must be completed within 10 minutes.
Exemptions and Players Under Rehab
Not all players participated in these assessments immediately. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, and Nitish Kumar Reddy will take part in these fitness trials only after being declared fully fit, as these players are currently undergoing a rehabilitation process to recover from injuries. Furthermore, fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have been temporarily exempted from this testing because they bowled extensively across both Test matches against Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Prince Yadav, who struggled with a hamstring strain during the England tour, has now recovered completely and is available for selection.
Upcoming Busy Domestic and International Schedule
The domestic season of the Board of Control for Cricket in India kicks off every year in September. This time, it will begin with a three-match T20 international series against Afghanistan in New Delhi. Immediately following this, the T20 squad will travel to Japan for the Asian Games, while a separate team of limited-overs specialists will play a home series against West Indies during the same timeframe. In addition, a series between India A and Australia A is scheduled to be held in Puducherry from the final week of September through the second week of October.
