Team India’s senior batter Virat Kohli has become the only cricketer to undergo his mandatory BCCI fitness test in London instead of Bengaluru. While the rest of the Indian squad, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Shubman Gill, reported at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on August 29, Kohli was allowed to complete his assessment overseas under supervision.
According to reports, Kohli, who is currently in England with his family, must have taken prior approval from the board. BCCI officials did not directly address the deviation but indicated that special permission was granted. The move has raised eyebrows, as uniformity in testing is generally maintained.
The first phase of tests focused on strength and recovery, with most players clearing the benchmarks. A few, however, underwent partial evaluations due to ongoing workload management. The second phase in September will include players like KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, and Rishabh Pant, who are in the rehab stage.
With the Asia Cup and a packed international season ahead, fitness protocols remain strict. Kohli’s London-based assessment is being viewed as a one-off case, but it has triggered debate on whether BCCI should allow such flexibility to others in the future.
