BCCI to conduct compulsory bimonthly fitness tests for all contracted players

In a move that is expected to give more focus to fitness in Indian cricket in the coming future, the BCCI has decided to conduct frequent tests on players.

After a report was filed by coach Anil Kumble on the same, the BCCI has decided to conduct compulsory bimonthly fitness tests on all contracted players, an initiative that is expected to help the BCCI monitor the core group of players, and their fitness from close quarters.

Speaking to TOI, Ramji Srinivasan, the fitness trainer for the Indian team during the 2011 World Cup, spoke: "There were no mandatory fitness tests either. Considering that in the last two decades, cricket has gone on from being mostly a skill-based sport to also being a physical sport at the highest level, fitness has always been the most important aspect that we continued to ignore”

This is one of the many changes that Kumble expects to bring in to help ease out the players in the face of tight international schedules and increased workloads.

Recently, he spoke about the need to create a pool of players that can be available to replace the first-choice players in the squad. Kumble feels that in the event of injury, the bench strength should be ready with a replacement, as and when required.“Kumble is sure that if the Indian team has to move forward, all stakeholders will have to work together. He can’t change things on his own. The Indian team has played good cricket at home but he wants to get different views on what is needed for them to do well overseas, like probably having more exposure trips for our bench strength,” a source close to the BCCI had said.

The importance of fitness in cricket quickly gaining ground, and with a strong support staff at work, the Indian team has gone through a number of changes as far as the players’ overall well-being is concerned. With tightly packed schedules, cricketers need to be monitored carefully, and fitness tests like these seem to be a step in the right direction.