New Delhi: Indian cricketers recently underwent fitness assessment at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru (CoE) ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup 2025
and other international assignments later this year. The likes of Test skipper Shubman Gill, ODI captain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and others underwent fitness drills. However, there was no Bronco Test for the players.
Ever since it has emerged that the Bronco Test could be included as part of the Indian cricket team’s fitness assessment for all contracted and targeted players, there has been significant buzz surrounding it. The Bronco Test has been recommended to the Indian team management by the team’s new strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux.
The Bronco Test, like the Yo-Yo Test, involves shuttle runs and is conducted to assess a player’s pace, agility, and endurance. However, it involves five sets and is considered tougher than the Yo-Yo test. The Bronco Test is mostly used by the top rugby teams in the world. Recently, reports surfaced that Indian players underwent the Bronco Test as part of their assessment at the CoE. However, that is not true.
As per a report in the Times of India, the Indian players underwent the Yo-Yo Test, some basic mobility and agility tests, along with regular health checkups. The Bronco Test might take place when the Indian squad assembles in the UAE for the Asia Cup 2025, which gets underway on September 09. However, the Bronco Test is not a certainty.
“It could happen when the squad assembles in Dubai for the Asia Cup. The team will start leaving late tonight and have their first session at ICC Academy on September 5. So if the management and the S&C want to do a Bronco assessment, it could happen in Dubai. If at all it happens,” a source was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
Team India to depart for UAE tonight for Asia Cup 2025
The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian squad will depart for the UAE on Wednesday night or early morning on Thursday for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. The Men in Blue will have their first training session at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday, September 05, to begin their preparations for the continental tournament. India will begin their group-stage campaign with a clash against hosts UAE, before taking on Pakistan on September 14.
India will lock horns with Oman in their final group-stage match on September 19. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super 4. The top two teams from the Super 4 stage will meet in the final on September 28. India will head into the tournament as the defending champions, having won the last edition in 2023.
