Virat Kohli Only Player To Do Fitness Test in London, Gets Special BCCI Permission
Virat Kohli underwent his mandatory BCCI fitness test in London instead of Bengaluru.
In a development that has sparked quiet debate in Indian cricket circles, Virat Kohli reportedly underwent his mandatory fitness test in London instead of joining his teammates at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru last week.
According to a Dainik Jagran report, the BCCI granted Kohli special permission to complete the assessment overseas, making him the only Indian cricketer to do so.
On August 29, senior players including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, and Kuldeep Yadav appeared for their tests at the CoE in Bengaluru.
Kohli, however, was allowed to complete his evaluation in London, where he is currently staying with his family.
A senior BCCI official did not directly comment on the deviation from protocol but hinted that the 35-year-old would have sought prior approval.
“He would have taken prior permission,” the official said. The exception has triggered questions about whether such flexibility should be institutionalised, or remain limited to rare cases.
The fitness evaluations, mandatory ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 and the packed international calendar, measured baseline strength and recovery levels.
While most players cleared their benchmarks, a few underwent partial assessments due to ongoing rehab or workload management. Emerging names like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, and Rinku Singh were also tested.
A second phase of testing is set for September, covering KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Nitish Reddy, players currently in recovery or return-to-play stages.
Kohli, who has retired from T20Is and Tests, remains available for ODIs and is expected to be part of the squad for the upcoming Australia tour in October-November.
