Reports: BCCI likely to review Team India's injury management amid growing fitness concerns

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to review the Indian team's injury management system following a series of fitness setbacks that have affected player availability in recent months. 

AS reported by The Times of India, the current team management is likely to provide feedback on head physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain, who took over the role from Nitin Patel in 2022.

The report states that India's recurring injury concerns have become a major point of discussion, with several key players missing games due to fitness issues. Jasprit Bumrah is the latest high-profile name on the injury list, while Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy have also been unavailable owing to their respective injuries.

The issue was discussed extensively during India's recent white-ball tour of England, with captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly unhappy over the frequent injury breakdowns that have prevented the team from fielding its strongest XI.

Gill had also spoken about the challenges of dealing with last-minute fitness concerns after India's defeat at Lord's.

"It becomes a little difficult when you come to the ground in the morning and find out that a player has a niggle. Then it's almost like asking whether you want to take a chance. If a player is only 80% fit and you are playing with five bowlers, and that player comes off after bowling five overs, then who will bowl? This is difficult. So, as a group, we need to improve our fitness and all those things," Gill had said after the Lord's defeat last month.

Kamlesh Jain and CoE under scrutiny

As per the report, several questions have been raised regarding the role of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in handling player fitness and rehabilitation. Head physiotherapist Kamlesh Jain is reportedly under scrutiny, while some senior Indian cricketers are said to have sought medical opinions from specialists outside the BCCI setup.

The report further adds that a section of players has also found the transition from former strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai to Adrian Le Roux less than ideal.

A source tracking the developments questioned the current injury management process. It stressed that the repeated fitness setbacks have made it difficult for the team management to settle on a preferred playing combination.

"The role of head physio Kamlesh Jain is under the scanner, as is that of the experts at the COE. These injury concerns aren't ideal because both the captain and coach have regularly struggled to field a full-strength Playing XI. How can one think about the right playing combination when even the 15 isn't their first choice?" a source was quoted as saying by TOI.

The source also stressed the need for the medical and support staff to take a more cautious approach while clearing players for selection, especially considering the intense competition for places in the Indian team.

"There is so much competition for each spot that a player is expected to push his body. This is where the support staff and the CoE need to step in. They need to raise the red flags and not rush players back into action. The situation is now becoming a bit embarrassing, and every concerned person needs to be held accountable. Was Nitish Reddy 100% fit when he played the third ODI against Afghanistan? Was Harshit rushed back? These are some very valid questions that require explanations," added the source.

Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, with Auqib Nabi replacing him in the squad.