Why fitness tests alone shouldn’t define selection
As the BCCI continues to experiment with advanced fitness assessments like the Bronco test, cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar has cautioned the BCCI against over-relying on fitness metrics as selection tools — urging a more balanced, role-specific approach.
The Bronco test — a tougher variation of the YoYo test with no recovery time — is being discussed as a future benchmark for endurance evaluation across the national team setup. While it has not yet been officially implemented, reports suggest it may be phased in gradually following continued use of the YoYo test ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Gavaskar: use fitness tests for insight, not exclusion
Sunil Gavaskar, writing in his column for Sportstar, emphasized that while fitness testing is useful for benchmarking and improvement, it should not dictate who gets to wear the India jersey.
“While it is fine to have these tests to get a general idea of where a player needs to strengthen their body, having them decide selection to the national team is a tad too much,” he wrote.
He highlighted the inherent flaws of using a single numerical standard to assess a squad made up of vastly different physical profiles and playing roles.
“Every person’s body is different, so having one standard for everybody in the squad is well-nigh impossible. There has to be consideration given to the player’s speciality and allowances made for that,” he continued.
Roles vary — so should fitness expectations
Gavaskar expanded on how fitness requirements are not only position-dependent but also workload-specific.
“For example, a wicketkeeper, who is constantly on the move the whole day, requires a different fitness level than the others. The fast bowlers will be different from the spinners, though the spinners will invariably bowl as many, if not more, overs in the day than them. The batters will need a different kind of fitness. As you can see, there is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. As long as this is taken into account and the strict parameters of the new test are not followed rigidly, then it is fine,” he said.
His point resonates particularly in a squad structure where specialists contribute in different ways, and high-endurance output for one player may look very different for another.
The real test lies in the mind and heart
For Gavaskar, the most crucial element of a player’s readiness for the national team isn’t something any fitness tracker or endurance test can measure.
“The most important test for playing at the highest level for your country cannot be measured, as it’s between the two ears. And the clincher for me is when the heart is opened, it should have only two words, ‘Indian cricket’, and nothing else,” he said.
In a high-performance era driven by data, wearable tech, and sports science, Gavaskar’s remarks are a reminder that passion, resilience, and intent remain core pillars of elite performance.
A moment for reflection at the BCCI
With the BCCI looking to future-proof its fitness protocols, Gavaskar’s words come as a timely caution. The introduction of tests like the Bronco might offer valuable data, but if misused, could lead to over-standardization in a sport defined by its diversity of roles.
As India’s cricket ecosystem moves forward, the challenge for administrators will be balancing modern performance metrics with human individuality — something Gavaskar believes is still central to the soul of Indian cricket.
