Fitness emergency! Nearly a dozen Indian stars called to CoE ahead of Sri Lanka tests

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:​

• Nearly a dozen Indian cricketers set to assemble at CoE this week.
• Fitness checks planned before Test tour of Sri Lanka next month.
• BCCI wants no further breakdowns ahead of packed 2027 calendar.

BCCI's Bengaluru CoE braces for influx of Indian stars ahead of Sri Lanka tests​

There has been a reported uptick in activity at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, with the facility gearing up to welcome a large group of contracted and shortlisted players over the coming days.

According to The Times of India, a dozen Indian cricketers are expected to be present at the facility by the end of this week, each there for slightly different reasons.

Several names are already stationed at the centre, including Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, and Akash Deep. They are set to be joined shortly by Washington Sundar and a handful of others as preparations intensify before a gruelling calendar.

The BCCI wants to complete a round of fitness assessments for players in contention for next month's Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Mohammed Siraj is due to arrive at the facility this week, with Ravindra Jadeja potentially following soon after. Meanwhile, several targeted players, including Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan, and Abhishek Porel, have already completed their evaluations, and staff at the centre anticipate even more arrivals over the coming days, particularly before these cricketers head off to represent their respective zonal sides in the Duleep Trophy.

MORE: No update in fitness SOP since 2023: BCCI CoE under the scanner after fitness issues in India camp

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A calendar that leaves no margin for error​

The BCCI is determined not to leave anything to chance regarding player fitness ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series, with comprehensive assessments planned before selectors finalise their squad for the two-match series.

"Hardik has been there training, Reddy is recovering, and Varun and Harshit are undergoing their rehabilitation," a source told ToI.

"The team management doesn't want to take any chances with regard to its players ahead of the Sri Lanka Test series.
Thorough assessments will be carried out, and the selectors will be informed about their status before the team is picked for the two Tests. The CoE has a fair idea of the targeted players after the red-ball tournament in Bengaluru."

India continue to grapple with fitness concerns as they build toward the 2027 World Cup. Naturally, the last thing the setup wants is further injury breakdowns either before or during the crucial upcoming Test series.

Most centrally contracted players are staring down an extremely packed schedule ahead, spanning all three formats, including an extended tour of New Zealand comprising five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Tests.

Taking this into consideration, the management is keen on maintaining a wide, fully assessed pool of players ready to be called upon, since multiple squads will likely need to be fielded simultaneously across different assignments in the months ahead.

MORE: Tilak Varma reveals how playing mostly in Asia exposed India's batting struggles in T20I series

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Prevention finally taking priority over reaction​

This proactive round of fitness testing feels like a long-overdue correction rather than routine practice, especially after a year littered with hamstring strains, quad injuries, and rushed comebacks.

Gathering nearly a dozen players together for thorough assessment before a Test series, rather than scrambling after an injury strikes mid-tour, signals the board finally treating fitness as a planning priority instead of an afterthought. What will matter most going forward, though, is whether this becomes a consistent practice tied to every major assignment, rather than a one-off response triggered by recent embarrassment in England.

With a brutal, multi-format calendar stretching well into the World Cup year, India simply cannot afford another wave of last-minute withdrawals. This week's activity at the CoE looks like a genuine step toward accountability, but only sustained follow-through will prove whether real lessons have actually been learned.

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