Laxman defends Bengaluru CoE as India grapples with injury crisis ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence, rejected criticism of the Bengaluru facility at a press conference in Bengaluru on August 9, 2026, saying its remit extends beyond treating injured players as India faces a mounting injury crisis ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka starting on August 15. He spoke as questions swirl over rehabilitation timelines, fitness assessments and communication between the CoE's sports science team and the national selection committee.

The CoE has been the focus of intense scrutiny after several centrally contracted players were sidelined, prompting debate about whether the institution's return-to-play protocols and monitoring are being applied consistently. Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among those undergoing rehabilitation at the Bengaluru centre, while other absentees include Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar. Bumrah's absence has been singled out as particularly consequential for India's prospects in the World Test Championship cycle.

Addressing reporters, Laxman said the centre's purpose is broader than rehabilitation, stating: "CoE is not merely a rehab centre. There are bigger roles to play for it in helping cricketers achieve excellence." He also declined to assign fault for the string of injuries, adding: "Injuries are part and parcel of any player's career. That's why monitoring system is very critical. And we don't use the term blame then we will be trying to find scapegoats."

Harshit Rana's case has been prominent in the debate: he returned from about four months on the sidelines with a hamstring problem only to suffer another hamstring injury within a fortnight of his comeback, prompting questions over whether his clearance to play was premature. Jasprit Bumrah's recovery timeline has similarly proved difficult to pin down after a knee impact injury led to fluid retention, delaying his return despite initial expectations he might be available for at least one of the two Sri Lanka Tests. Sai Sudharsan, meanwhile, has continued to feel pain in his left big toe despite extended net work as part of his rehabilitation.

Nitish Kumar Reddy's recent workload has also been cited as a factor in his setback: he had been attempting to raise his bowling speed by around 7-8 kmph, moving from the late 120 kmph range into the mid-130s, and that increased load affected his hamstring and quadriceps. The CoE is also managing the recoveries of several white-ball specialists, including Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Prince Yadav, while fast bowler Akash Deep remains out long-term after a lower-back stress fracture.

The BCCI's sports science unit has seen its workload rise amid this spell of injuries and is operating without a permanent head since Nitin Patel resigned in early 2025; Dhananjay Kaushik is currently overseeing the sports science operations at the Bengaluru facility. Reports of differing timelines between the CoE and the selection committee, and questions over whether players have been released before completing return-to-play protocols, have intensified scrutiny. A virtual meeting involving senior CoE officials, including Laxman, and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar was held to discuss injury-management concerns affecting centrally contracted players.

Speaking to PTI on condition of anonymity, a BCCI official tracking developments at the CoE said: "The safest thing is to rule a player out but is the current sports science staff at CoE doing enough to get top players on park on time. Selectors were assured Bumrah will be available for at least one Test." The official also noted uncertainty around Sai Sudharsan's recovery, saying that although the batter had been spending extended periods in the nets, "there was no guarantee that he would be fit in time for the first Test."

The BCCI is expected to review its wider injury-management structure, with secretary Devajit Saikia scheduled to meet Laxman at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to take stock of the rehabilitation and injury-management programme as part of that process.