BCCI’s VVS Laxman Addresses Player Management Protocols Amid Injury Concerns

VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), has dismissed claims of miscommunication between the CoE, team management, and selectors regarding player management. He emphasized the clear protocols established for fitness evaluations.

India will miss several first-choice players in the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15. Jasprit Bumrah and Sai Sudharsan are ruled out completely, while Washington Sundar will not participate in the series opener in Galle.

“There’s a brilliant coordination between the CoE, the team management of both teams [men and women], the Sports Science & Medicine staff, and the selection committees,” Laxman stated. He noted that the selection committee chairperson reaches out to the CoE for fitness status reports of players, with the current status communicated effectively to all relevant parties.

Bumrah is undergoing rehabilitation for a left knee issue sustained during the T20 World Cup, and Sai Sudharsan is recovering from a stress reaction in his right big toe. Late replacements include Auqib Nabi for Bumrah and Sarfaraz Khan for Sai Sudharsan.

Laxman clarified that both players were under consideration for selection contingent on fitness clearance, stating, “You assess them, you move them from one stage to the next stage.” He assured that the ongoing communication allows players to understand their readiness for participation.

The recent surge in player injuries has drawn attention to the CoE, which currently operates without a Head of Sports Science & Medicine following Nitin Patel’s resignation last year. Laxman explained the search for a replacement has been challenging, citing a lack of suitable candidates willing to relocate to Bangalore.

Despite these challenges, Laxman confirmed that current staff members are being upskilled to enhance the CoE’s capabilities. He stressed the importance of maintaining benchmarks and Return To Play (RTP) programs for injured players to ensure they are fully recovered before returning to the field.

He further elaborated on the CoE’s comprehensive approach to injury management, highlighting the use of technology, particularly the Athlete Monitoring System (AMS), which helps track player workloads to prevent injuries. Laxman emphasized the balance needed for training regimens, stating that injuries often occur not from overexertion but from insufficient practice.

“There’s a sweet spot we have for each fast bowler, with weekly monitoring of their load,” he added, underlining the CoE’s commitment to optimizing player performance through strategic management and advanced monitoring techniques.

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