To bolster the physical fitness of the Indian cricket team, the BCCI is introducing the Bronco Test as part of its fitness regimen. The new assessment, proposed by strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux and approved by head coach Gautam Gambhir, will join the Yo-Yo test and the two-kilometer time trial in evaluating player fitness. The move comes in response to observations of fitness disparities among Indian cricketers during the recent Test series in England. The Bronco Test, traditionally employed in rugby, measures a player’s endurance through a series of shuttle runs. The test involves running 20, 40, and 60-meter shuttles in sequence, completing five sets continuously, covering a total distance of 1,200 meters. The performance benchmark for Indian players is to complete the test in less than six minutes. Initial trials have been carried out at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. The primary goal is to set well-defined fitness standards, with a focus on encouraging cricketers, particularly fast bowlers, to increase their running capacity. The incorporation of the Bronco Test is expected to help Team India maintain top-tier fitness levels in modern cricket.
