“Bronco Test Designed to Rule Out Rohit Sharma” – Ex-Indian Cricketer Bold Remark on BCCI’s New Fitness Policy
Manoj Tiwary says Bronco Test may hurt Rohit Sharma’s future, backs Shreyas Iyer over Shubman Gill for India ODI captaincy.
The BCCI has introduced the Rugby-inspired Bronco Test as the new fitness standard for Indian cricketers. While it aims to raise fitness levels, former India batter Manoj Tiwary believes the move could put Rohit Sharma’s future in doubt.
In an Interview with CricTracker, Tiwary said he sees the timing of this test as questionable.
“I believe this Bronco Test… is for the players like Rohit Sharma and someone who they don’t want to be part of the team in future. That’s why it has been introduced,” he said.
Tiwary added that the Bronco Test is tougher than previous benchmarks and may stop Rohit if he does not work harder on his fitness. He compared it to the Yo-Yo Test after India’s 2011 World Cup win, which led to the sidelining of senior names like Sehwag, Yuvraj, and Gambhir.
On Virat Kohli’s place in the side, Tiwary was clear. “It will be very difficult to keep out Virat Kohli from the plans for the 2027 World Cup,” he said. But he feels Rohit might not get the same long-term backing.
Shreyas vs Gill for Captaincy
Looking ahead, Tiwary named Shreyas Iyer as his choice for the next ODI captain. He praised Iyer’s calm and tactical leadership in both IPL and domestic cricket.
“He’s one who leads from the front, makes smart decisions, and has quietly built a strong record,” Tiwary noted, recalling Iyer’s title run with KKR and success with Mumbai.
However, he also pointed out that coach Gautam Gambhir is close to Shubman Gill, setting up a captaincy battle between the two.
“I feel Shreyas Iyer will eventually lead Team India… but he will be fighting this captaincy battle with Shubman Gill,” Tiwary said.
Selection, Bias, and Social Media
On the broader issue of selection, Tiwary dismissed the idea of a “star culture.” Instead, he said choices often depend on personal preferences of captains and selectors.
“Earlier, a lot of injustice used to happen and it stayed under the carpet. Now, performances are in the people’s eye. It is difficult to keep everyone out of the equation,” Tiwary said.
He recalled how players like Utpal Chatterjee, despite strong records, missed out due to regional bias. But he believes social media has changed the game.
