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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Center of Excellence (CoE), and the team management itself do not want to risk any of their players' careers by taking any decision in a hurry. From now on, players will have to prove their 200% fitness before making a return to the India National Cricket Team.
Currently, there are multiple cricketers, including Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana, and many others, who are under the radar of the board mostly because of their fitness-related issues. When they will be able to make their returns for the national side remains unknown even after weeks. Ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, BCCI, CoE, and the team management, all of the concerned parties related directly to the Indian cricket team, want to double down on the players' fitness before reintroducing them at the top level of the game.
Team India wants to secure 200 percent fitness of its players
Quoting a source close to developments of the things related to the players' fitness, Cricbuzz in their report claims that the officials want to be sure about any player's fitness by 200 percent before confirming him for the Indian cricket team.
"Not just 100 percent, but they want to be 200 percent confident about a player’s availability before releasing him,” the source informed the media house.
The injury of Harshit Rana was a lesson for the Indian cricket team
But why do the officials want 200 percent assurance about the players' fitness? The incident of Harshit Rana came as a major lesson for the Indian cricket team. He joined the team for the UK tour after a long injury lay-off, played a few matches, and was ruled out again with another injury within a couple of weeks of making the return.
VVS Laxman, the head of BCCI's Center of Excellence, expressed in a recent media interaction that players are the best to know about their own physical conditions. Decisions about players' conditions will be taken only through a smooth communication process.
"They (players) understand that they're not yet ready to participate in the national series. It's always player-centric and team-centric. So that communication is happening seamlessly. I think what the BCCI has done is there's transparency in all the fitness reports and also in the selection," Laxman said.
VVS Laxman explains why BCCI names injured players in squads
In recent times, the BCCI announces the squads with the players whose fitness remains a concern. Cricket fans questioned if a particular player is injured, then why does the board include the player in the team? In response, VVS Laxman explained that the selectors want to confirm the best possible squad first, then the final decision is taken based on the current status of the players.
"At the end of the selection, whether it's a release to the press, it's clearly mentioned that these players are picked subject to fitness. Means if they don't clear the fitness test, the selectors will know who the other players are who will go in their place if they don't clear the fitness test. I mean, it's basic common sense," Laxman added.
