Indian cricketers, including Test skipper Shubman Gill and ODI captain Rohit Sharma, have successfully passed their pre-season fitness tests at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. The positive results mean Gill is now cleared to travel to Dubai for the Asia Cup, where he will serve as the team’s vice-captain. Other players who also cleared the fitness parameters include Jasprit Bumrah and Jitesh Sharma.
Gill's fitness test was a mandatory requirement after he was forced to withdraw from the Duleep Trophy due to a fever. The 25-year-old had been recovering at his hometown for the past few days. The fitness assessment included the now-standard Yo-Yo test, as well as a DXA scan, which is used to measure bone density, a new addition to the mandatory health checks for players.
Other notable players who also passed the test without any issues were Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Washington Sundar, and Shardul Thakur. While Jaiswal and Washington are on the standby list for the Asia Cup, Thakur will remain in Bengaluru to lead West Zone in the Duleep Trophy semifinal against Central Zone.
While Rohit Sharma has retired from Test and T20 formats, his fitness clearance suggests he is preparing for future assignments. Though unconfirmed, a three-match ODI series between India A and Australia A, followed by an ODI series in Australia in November, could be on his radar. Rohit is expected to stay in Bengaluru to continue training at the Centre of Excellence.
Meanwhile, other members of the Asia Cup squad, such as Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Riyan Parag, were not required to undergo the same fitness assessment as they recently participated in the Duleep Trophy quarterfinals. However, standby wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who missed his Duleep Trophy quarterfinal match due to a groin niggle, remains under the close supervision of the medical team.
