The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), in coordination with the selection committee and the Centre of Excellence (CoE) led by VVS Laxman, is tightening its fitness verification process for international cricket. This shift in policy aims to prevent the recurring issue of players being selected for series only to be ruled out shortly after, ensuring that the team remains stable and prepared.
The decision follows several high-profile instances where players were sidelined shortly after selection. Harshit Rana’s experience in June serves as a primary example; after a five-month break, he returned for tours of Ireland and England but was forced to withdraw within two weeks, requiring Prince Yadav to replace him. Similar last-minute changes have affected other squads, including the replacement of Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan by Auqib Nabi and Sarfaraz Khan for Sri Lanka Tests, the late inclusion of Suryansh Shedge for Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Ravi Bishnoi stepping in for Varun Chakaravarthy during the Zimbabwe tour.
Under the new directive, officials are prioritizing extreme caution. A source familiar with the policy stated, “Not just 100 per cent, but they want to be 200 per cent confident about a player’s availability before releasing him.” This commitment to accuracy is reflected in the recent squad announcement for the T20I series against Afghanistan, where Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, and Harshit Rana were all listed as conditional selections subject to fitness clearance.
VVS Laxman emphasized that this strategy is rooted in transparency and player welfare. “They (players) understand that they’re not yet ready to participate in the national series. It’s always player-centric and team-centric,” Laxman noted during a media interaction. He explained that by clearly marking players as conditional, the selectors can simultaneously prepare contingency plans, ensuring that if a player fails a fitness test, a ready replacement is already identified. “It’s basic common sense,” he added.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that because selection meetings often occur three to four weeks before a team’s departure, some players currently in rehabilitation are included with an asterisk. “So if he gets picked within that period of 21 or 28 days, he will be taken into the team,” Saikia explained. He noted that the board avoids outright rejection on the day of selection if there is a realistic expectation that the player will be fully recovered by the time the team travels or plays.
Regarding the current squad, selectors remain optimistic that Jasprit Bumrah will be fit for the three-match series against Afghanistan, which is scheduled to begin on September 13 in New Delhi. Similarly, Nitish Reddy, who has been recovering from a quadriceps injury, has reportedly been bowling at full intensity at the CoE and is expected to be available for the Delhi fixtures. However, the status of Rana and Sundar remains uncertain, with the source reiterating that “The CoE will not take chances” regarding their participation.
