Bengaluru, August 9, 2026: Former India batter and BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman has backed the organisation’s injury-management system amid growing concerns over the number of Indian cricketers suffering injuries.
India are currently dealing with a series of fitness setbacks, with Jasprit Bumrah and B. Sai Sudharsan ruled out of the upcoming two-Test tour of Sri Lanka after failing to secure the required fitness clearances.
Laxman said there is strong communication between the Centre of Excellence, the Indian team management and the Sports Science & Medicine (SSM) team. He also rejected the idea of looking for someone to blame whenever a player suffers an injury.
“We don’t like to use the word blame, because when you do, you’re trying to find a scapegoat,” Laxman said while speaking to reporters at the CoE in Bengaluru.
Laxman Says Injuries Are Part of Elite Sport
The former India international acknowledged that injuries are unavoidable when players compete at the highest level. He stressed that constant monitoring of players remains essential, particularly with international cricket demanding increasingly intense workloads.
According to Laxman, the Centre of Excellence is not simply a rehabilitation facility. Its responsibilities extend beyond helping injured players return to action.
He also praised the work being done by India’s strength and conditioning staff, including Adrian Le Roux, and said player monitoring is being taken seriously.
Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan Were Selected Provisionally
Both Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan were initially included conditionally in India’s squad for the Sri Lanka Tests. However, neither player eventually received the fitness clearance required to join the team.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia defended the selection approach, saying players recovering from injuries cannot automatically be ruled out several weeks before a tour.
Saikia explained that selection meetings generally take place three to four weeks before departure. During that period, a player’s physical condition can change significantly.
He pointed out that recovery timelines vary from person to person and that an injury may require two weeks in one case and four weeks in another.
BCCI Yet to Appoint New Head of Sports Science
Another issue facing the Centre of Excellence is the vacant Head of Sports Science position. The post has remained unfilled since Nitin Patel left the BCCI setup in March 2025.
Saikia attributed the delay to a shortage of suitable candidates for the position.
Laxman said the BCCI is not interested in rushing the appointment and wants to find an individual with the required experience, knowledge and expertise.
Former India and National Cricket Academy physiotherapist Andrew Leipus was reportedly the BCCI’s first-choice candidate for the role. However, he eventually withdrew from the process after initially agreeing to take up the position.
Laxman said the subsequent selection process was extensive. While one candidate from Australia did not eventually join, two other candidates from the process are already working at the Centre of Excellence.
The CoE now plans to develop its existing staff while continuing the search for a senior sports-science professional.
Focus Remains on Player Fitness and Long-Term Development
Laxman emphasised that the Centre of Excellence has a wider role than injury rehabilitation. Along with helping players recover, the institution is expected to contribute to fitness monitoring, sports science, player development and the overall performance ecosystem of Indian cricket.
With India’s international schedule becoming increasingly demanding, effective coordination between the CoE, team management and medical staff will remain crucial to managing player workloads and reducing injury-related disruptions.
