BCCI Conducts Fitness Tests for Indian Stars Ahead of New Season
BCCI conducts fitness tests for Indian stars in Bengaluru, with new Bronco test added ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The BCCI has conducted mandatory pre-season fitness tests for centrally contracted Indian players at its Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Players including Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh and Ruturaj Gaikwad completed the tests in batches.
The testing included the Yo-Yo test, 2K running test and the newly introduced Bronco test, which involves a 1,200m shuttle run. Players also underwent DXA scans to check bone density and body composition.
The reported target for the Bronco test is around 5:15 to 5:20 minutes, while the 2K run target is between nine and 10 minutes. Players need to score at least 16.5 in the Yo-Yo test.
The fitness drive comes after concerns over player fitness and a series of injuries that kept several key players out during India’s recent white-ball tours of Ireland and England.
The BCCI aims to use the detailed testing to set individual fitness baselines, manage workloads and reduce the risk of injuries during a busy season.
“The pre-season testing for the contracted players was conducted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence,” the BCCI said in a social media post. Players arrived in batches and completed their mandated tests.
However, a report has raised questions about whether all players faced the same level of challenge. “It has now emerged that certain senior players were given much more comfortable targets to meet to clear fitness tests,” the report claimed.
The issue could lead to further discussion about how fitness standards are applied across India’s centrally contracted players as the team prepares for a packed 2026-27 season.
