VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), addressed the media in Bengaluru on Sunday, August 9, 2026, providing an update on the rehabilitation and fitness protocols followed by injured members of India’s senior men’s team. The former Indian batter explained the stringent procedures players must complete before being cleared to return to competitive cricket.
Laxman revealed that injured players are required to complete two Return To Play matches and meet specific fitness benchmarks before receiving clearance to resume playing for either India or their domestic teams. The process is designed to ensure that players are physically prepared and capable of handling the demands of competitive cricket.
His comments came amid reports that some injured Indian cricketers were working with personal fitness trainers during their rehabilitation at the CoE. Laxman dismissed the suggestion as something he was unaware of and highlighted the extensive monitoring system used by the BCCI to track contracted players throughout their recovery.
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“This is news to me. There is a lot of news that is happening, but as I told you, the way we do it is that the Indian team S&C is responsible for keeping track of the contracted players,” VVS Laxman said during the press conference.
The BCCI Centre of Excellence follows a structured, multi-layered system to monitor rehabilitation, workload, and fitness progression. According to Laxman, every training and rehabilitation session is recorded on the Athlete Management System (AMS). GPS tracking is also used to monitor player activity, ensuring that the rehabilitation process remains transparent and properly documented.
“The S&Cs at the CoE are responsible for keeping track of the targeted and the age-group players. Everything is there on the AMS. Every session of the player is there on the AMS and that is why we use the GPS where wherever the player is doing, whatever he is doing is documented out there,” he explained.
Laxman also backed the expertise of the BCCI’s strength and conditioning (S&C) staff, insisting that the organisation has highly experienced professionals capable of managing players through complex injury recoveries.He specifically praised Adrian, who has previously worked with the Indian men’s team, describing him as a world-class fitness professional. Laxman also highlighted Nick, who recently joined the Indian women’s team, and pointed to his extensive experience in sports science and conditioning.
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“If you see the men’s and women’s team trainers, now Adrian is a world-class trainer. In 2002, I remember he was our first foreign fitness trainer and the quality of him has got no questions about his qualities,” VVS Laxman said.
The CoE continues to play a crucial role in India’s cricket ecosystem, with the facility also preparing to host the Duleep Trophy from August 23, 2026. The season-opening domestic tournament will further underline the centre’s importance in developing players and managing India’s wider cricket talent pipeline.
