BCCI Questions Physio Kamlesh Jain Over Team India Fitness Drop; Major CoE Overhaul Begins: Report

Indian cricket's medical landscape is undergoing a rigorous examination, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly putting Head Physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain under the scanner following a perceived decline in the fitness standards of several national team players. This scrutiny has triggered a major restructuring of the fitness programme at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, as first reported by The Times of India today. Jos Buttler Backs India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi To Break His Most T20 Runs Record (Watch Video)

Report indicate that Team India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have expressed significant displeasure over the frequent injury breakdowns, particularly after the recent white-ball tour of England in July 2026. Gill had publicly highlighted the challenges of last-minute fitness concerns after India's defeat at Lord's, stating, 'It becomes a little difficult when you come to the ground in the morning and find out that a player has a niggle... So, as a group, we need to improve our fitness and all those things.'

CoE Under Scrutiny

The CoE's role in player fitness and rehabilitation has come under intense scrutiny, with concerns raised about the effectiveness of the current medical system. Sources suggest that a communication breakdown and efficiency issues within the CoE's sports science and medical team have impacted player fitness and selection decisions.

Crucially, some senior Indian cricketers have reportedly sought independent medical opinions outside the BCCI setup, indicating a lack of full confidence in the current internal mechanisms.

New Fitness Regime: Bronco Test to the Fore

In response to these concerns, the CoE is moving away from customised fitness parameters towards a standardised base fitness programme for all cricketers. The long-standing Yo-Yo test is being replaced by the more stringent Bronco Test as the primary fitness assessment.

New Fitness Test Standards:

Bronco Test: Players must cover distances of 20m, 40m, and 60m (running back to the starting point after each segment) within a total time of 6 minutes, with a new base figure of 5.15-5.20 minutes set for completion.

2km Run Test: The time limit for this test is being reduced, with a reduced time limit being introduced.

Head Physio Kamlesh Jain, who took over from Nitin Patel in 2022, has reportedly been explicitly instructed to prioritise fitness standards regardless of a player's stature, flagging any unsatisfactory levels without hesitation. VVS Laxman Favored to Replace Ajit Agarkar as India’s Chief Selector: Report.

Key Players Affected by Injuries

The recent injury list includes several prominent names, impacting team selection:

Jasprit Bumrah (32): Latest high-profile player ruled out of the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins on August 15, due to a left knee injury sustained during the ODI series against England in July.

Harshit Rana: Unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

Nitish Kumar Reddy (23): Also sidelined by a quadriceps injury.

Washington Sundar (26): Ruled out of the first Test against Sri Lanka and highly doubtful for the second, following a hamstring injury sustained during the white-ball tour of England.

Rohit Sharma: Suffered a hamstring issue during the IPL 2026.

Sanju Samson (31): Cited for easily gaining weight, attributed to gaps in the system.

These persistent injury concerns have prevented the team management from consistently fielding its strongest XI, prompting this urgent review and overhaul of the fitness protocols. The BCCI's new, stricter fitness benchmarks aim to ensure that only fully fit players represent the national team in future assignments, starting with a complete fitness assessment before every series.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2026 10:25 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).