BCCI Ups The Fitness Ante, Introduces 'New Intense Training Program' For Indian Cricketers

The BCCI has now launched a mandatory 2-km time trial, which is meant to test the speed and endurance of the players. In addition to passing the Yo-Yo test for entry into Team India, it will now be necessary for cricketers to clear this new trial.

Indian cricket team, Photo Courtesy: AFP

The fitness level required by a player to play international cricket is becoming stronger day by day. Now, the team is a hit, only if its players are fully fit. Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, Team India players look in good shape and seem absolutely highly concerned about their fitness.

After the recently concluded India's tour of Australia, one can easily say that the agility of India players is better than ever. But given the ever increasing challenges at the international level, the fitness standard in Team India has now been made somewhat more difficult.

The BCCI has now launched a mandatory 2-km time trial, which is meant to test the speed and endurance of the players. All players signed with BCCI will have to go through this mandatory trial. In addition to passing the Yo-Yo test for entry into Team India, it will now be necessary for cricketers to clear this new trial.

A BCCI official told The Indian Express that the board felt that the current fitness standard of the team played a big role in its success. But now is the time to take players' fitness level to a different level and a 2-km time trial will help in the cause.

“The Board felt that the  current fitness standard played a huge role in getting our fitness to the next level. It is important to take our fitness level to another level now. The time trial exercise will help us to compete even better. The Board will keep updating the standards every year,” a BCCI official told The Indian Express.

According to the new norm introduced by the board, Fast bowlers will have to complete a 2-km trial run in 8 minutes 15 seconds. The standard will be 8 minutes 30 seconds for batsmen, wicketkeepers and spinners. While the minimum score to pass the Yo-Yo test will be 17.1. All team India players have been informed about the new rule by BCCI.

Apart from this, the new fitness norm will be mandatory for the players who wish to secure a place in team India for T20 World Cup. Players can give and pass the new Test in front of Strength and Conditioning Members of BCCI or National Cricket Academy.