Gay injury could leave England hunting for new Test opener

The Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru is striving to standardise fitness test parameters for the Indian cricket team, following a series of injury setbacks during their tours in Ireland and England. The medical team, comprising the CoE and the Indian team, is working on a unified approach to assess player fitness. The Bronco test, which emphasizes agility, has now been set as the primary fitness assessment tool, with a base figure of 5.15-5.20 minutes to determine if a player is fit enough to be selected.

The BCCI previously required a 16.5-minute Yo-Yo test clearance. The CoE has also established a 9-10 minute mark for the 2K running test. Senior players were reportedly given easier targets to meet, and some, like Harshit Rana, were allowed to clear tests despite being overweight. The CoE and team management have expressed concerns over players' fitness levels, with some struggling to perform during the new fitness drills. The team management has questioned Kamlesh Jain, the team physio, for the recurring fitness issues.