The Center of Excellence (CoE) of the BCCI came under intense scrutiny due to the constant injuries sustained by Indian players. The physical condition of stars such as Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar has heightened concerns surrounding the Indian team.
The head of the CoE, VVS Lakshman, stated that this center, located in Bangalore, is not solely intended for the rehabilitation of injured athletes. During a press conference in Bangalore on Sunday (August 9), he emphasized that the role of the CoE is much broader than mere rehabilitation, as it assists players in achieving the highest level of mastery.
The main issue in Indian cricket currently revolves around the reasons for frequent injuries. Lakshman declined to place responsibility for this on any specific person or department. He noted that injuries are a natural part of a professional athlete's career, making the system of continuous monitoring critically important. Lakshman added: 'We do not use the word 'blame' because we would then be looking for a scapegoat.'
The Indian team is scheduled to play a two-match test series against Sri Lanka starting August 15, but injuries have created serious problems for the team management. The biggest blow has been Jasprit Bumrah's inability to participate in matches. Initially, selectors hoped he could feature in at least one Test, but due to fluid retention issues following his knee injury, his return will take longer.
Sai Sudarshan was also included in the starting lineup based on his physical fitness. He trained extensively on the field, but the risk was not taken due to pain in his left big toe.
The most pressing questions regarding the CoE arose in connection with Harshit Rana's situation. The former fast bowler was sidelined for about four months due to hamstring issues. However, just two weeks after his return, he suffered another hamstring injury. This sparked debate over whether all necessary return-to-play protocols were followed before allowing Harshit back on the field. His recurrence of injury intensified the discussion about player rehabilitation and certification processes.
Nitish Kumar Reddy's case is different. He was working to increase his bowling speed by approximately 7-8 kilometers per hour. This increased load on his bowling affected his hamstrings and quadriceps. This raises the question of how the load increase during players' skill development is monitored.
The problem is not limited only to the number of injuries. The consistency between the medical team, the CoE sports science team, and the National Selection Committee regarding player return timelines is also a subject of discussion. It was during these discussions that Lakshman held a virtual meeting with other senior CoE staff and chief selector Ajit Agarkar, where rehabilitation and the potential centralized contract return of injured players were discussed.
Since the beginning of 2025, the position of Head of Sports Science at the CoE has remained vacant following the departure of Nitin Patel. Dhanjai Kaushik is currently fulfilling this role. The board's concern is not only the number of injured players but also the accuracy of the timelines provided by selectors for their return.
Besides Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, fast bowler Akash Dip has also been unable to play consistently for a long time due to a stress fracture in his lower back. Players such as Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Prince Yadav are also under the observation of the CoE due to various physical fitness issues.
