BCCI's CoE to introduce Bronco and 2km run as uniform fitness tests, report says

A TOI report on August 7, 2026 said the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence is set to introduce a uniform fitness test for India that will include the Bronco and a 2-kilometre run.

The board’s move follows concern over a rising number of injuries and comes amid dissatisfaction from selectors and management with team physio Kamlesh Jain, the report added. The BCCI’s existing fitness policy is described as strict, and the new protocol will sit alongside the Yo-Yo test long used by India.

The Yo-Yo test, introduced under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, is a 20-metre shuttle-run conducted at increasing speeds with periodic recovery breaks; it is used to measure endurance, speed, recovery time and a player’s ability to handle pressure. The CoE’s revised benchmark requires a Yo-Yo score of 16.5 to pass; the assessment parameter before the Bronco tests was 16.1.

Adrian Le Roux, the BCCI strength and conditioning coach, introduced the Bronco test for Team India last year. The Bronco is a high-intensity running drill borrowed from rugby and is described as uncommon in modern cricket; its stated purpose is to evaluate cardiovascular fitness.

The Bronco uses four markers set at 0, 20, 40 and 60 metres. One set requires a player to start at the line and complete three shuttle runs touching the 20m, 40m and 60m markers, covering 240 metres per set.

A full Bronco assessment consists of five consecutive sets, totalling 1,200 metres, to be completed without stopping, at which point the time is recorded to gauge cardiovascular strength and endurance. Separately, the CoE standard also specifies a 2-kilometre run to be completed in the shortest possible time, with the target window set at nine to ten minutes.

The CoE’s planned rollout will use the Bronco protocol, a 2km timed run and the updated Yo-Yo threshold as unified fitness criteria for national players, replacing the previous single-parameter assessment.