Bengaluru: CoE head VVS Laxman addresses India’s injury concerns amid scrutiny
The BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru is under increased scrutiny due to a rising number of player injuries. VVS Laxman, head of the CoE, has emphasized that injuries are an unavoidable aspect of a cricketer’s career and that the facility’s role extends beyond merely being a rehabilitation centre. He highlighted the importance of continuous player monitoring rather than seeking blame for setbacks.
Laxman’s comments come as several key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar, are dealing with fitness issues. These concerns have brought the CoE’s injury-management programme and its coordination with team management and selectors into focus, particularly with India preparing for a Test series against Sri Lanka.
CoE’s Role and Player Monitoring
Laxman stated that the CoE has broader responsibilities in helping cricketers achieve excellence, not just rehabilitation. He stressed that injuries are an inherent part of professional sport and that a critical monitoring system is in place to assess players continuously. He mentioned that the CoE does not assign blame when injuries occur, focusing instead on player assessment and recovery.
To continuously monitor fitness, the CoE has introduced the Bronco test by Adrian, especially when players are actively involved in a series and conventional fitness tests like the Yo Yo test cannot be performed. Laxman cited Jasprit Bumrah and B Sai Sudharsan as examples of players whose fitness was assessed through multiple parameters before decisions were made regarding their availability for matches.
The communication between the CoE and team management is described as seamless. However, concerns have been raised regarding whether the timelines for player recovery communicated by the CoE consistently align with the expectations of the selectors. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia met Laxman at the CoE to review the rehabilitation and injury-management programme.
Injury Challenges and Player Pressures
A source at the CoE indicated that players often continue to play through injuries during the IPL due to franchise and financial pressures. This can make their rehabilitation at the CoE more challenging once they are referred to the facility. The increasing number of injuries, particularly overuse and stress injuries, is attributed to the demanding schedule of “too much cricket” and the physical limits of the human body.
Sai Sudharsan was recently ruled out of the Sri Lanka series due to a big toe injury sustained during an India A Test. He had scored two centuries in two ‘A’ Tests before the injury. Jasprit Bumrah‘s absence from the series is also significant, as he continues to experience issues with his knee due to an impact injury, requiring additional recovery time for fluid retention.
Other players sidelined include Harshit Rana, who is recovering from a Grade 1 biceps femoris muscle strain after a major right knee ligament injury, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who sustained a left quadriceps injury while bowling. Washington Sundar is out of the first Test with a hamstring injury, and Akash Deep remains unavailable due to stress reactions in his back. There are also fitness concerns surrounding Shubman Gill, who hurt his right finger during practice.
Laxman’s message underscores that the CoE’s primary function is to manage players’ overall journey towards sustained excellence, rather than solely focusing on rehabilitation. The CoE is expected to remain under close observation as India faces a demanding Test season ahead.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
