CoE not just a rehab centre: VVS Laxman pushes back on criticism amid injury crisis

BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman has pushed back at criticism of the Bengaluru-based facility amid a growing injury crisis in Indian cricket, insisting that the institution’s role goes well beyond rehabilitating injured players.

The CoE has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks as several Indian players have suffered injuries, with questions being raised over rehabilitation timelines, fitness assessments and communication between the sports science team and the national selection committee.

Adressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Laxman, however, said the CoE should not be viewed merely as a rehabilitation centre and stressed that its responsibilities extend to helping cricketers achieve excellence.

“CoE is not merely a rehab centre. There are bigger roles to play for it in helping cricketers achieve excellence,” Laxman said.

He also refused to pin the blame on any individual or department for the spate of injuries, pointing out that injuries are an unavoidable part of a professional cricketer’s career.

“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,” Laxman said.

The comments come at a time when the CoE has been at the centre of discussions around India’s injury-management programme. Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are among the players currently rehabilitating at the facility, with India set to begin a crucial Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15.

Bumrah’s absence is particularly significant, with India needing a strong result in the series to remain in contention in the World Test Championship cycle.

Rana’s case has also added to the concerns surrounding India’s injury management. The fast bowler returned after spending around four months on the sidelines, only to suffer another hamstring injury within a fortnight of his comeback.

BCCI SECRETARY VISITS CoE AMID CRISIS

Concerned by the growing list of injured players, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is expected to meet Laxman at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to take stock of the rehabilitation and injury-management programme.

India are set to miss several players because of injuries. Apart from Bumrah, Sai Sudharsan, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar are also dealing with different fitness issues. Fast bowler Akash Deep has been out for an extended period after suffering a lower-back stress fracture.

The CoE is also currently handling the rehabilitation of several white-ball specialists, including Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Prince Yadav.

The workload on the sports science team has increased considerably, with the BCCI still without a permanent head of sports science following Nitin Patel’s resignation in early 2025. Dhananjay Kaushik is currently overseeing the sports science operations at the Bengaluru facility.

The BCCI’s concern is not simply the number of injuries but also whether the timelines communicated by the CoE have been consistent with the expectations of the selectors.

Sai Sudharsan and Bumrah were initially included in India’s squad for the Sri Lanka Tests subject to fitness. However, the CoE’s team of experts eventually decided to exercise caution after assessing their respective conditions.

There have also been reports of differences between the CoE and the selection committee over the fitness timelines of certain players and whether players have been released before completing all the necessary return-to-play protocols.

Harshit Rana’s situation has been one of the most discussed cases. The fast bowler had spent four months out with a hamstring injury before returning to action, but suffered another setback soon after his comeback. Questions were subsequently raised over whether he had been cleared to return too early.

Bumrah’s situation has also highlighted the difficulty involved in assessing a player’s recovery timeline. The selectors had initially been led to believe that the fast bowler would be available for at least one of the two Tests against Sri Lanka.

However, Bumrah’s knee continued to cause problems after an impact injury, with fluid retention requiring additional time for recovery.

Sudharsan’s case has followed a similar pattern. The batter had been spending significant time batting in the nets as part of his recovery, but continued to experience pain in his left big toe.

Nitish Kumar Reddy’s injury has raised another set of questions. The all-rounder had been working on increasing his bowling speed by around 7-8 kmph, with the aim of moving from the late 120 kmph range into the mid-130s. The increased workload subsequently took a toll on his hamstring and quadriceps.

WHY DID CoE COME UNDER SCANNER?

The latest concerns have brought a communication gap between the CoE’s sports science and medical teams and the national selection committee into sharp focus.

Bumrah’s absence from the Sri Lanka series is the latest example. The selectors had initially expected the fast bowler to be available for the series before it became clear that his recovery would take longer.

A virtual meeting was held between senior CoE officials, including Laxman, and selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar to discuss injury-management issues involving centrally contracted players.

The larger question, however, is whether the CoE’s state-of-the-art facilities and sports science department are doing enough to prevent injuries and ensure that players return to action safely and on time.

The BCCI has been without an official head of sports science since Patel’s exit, leaving Kaushik to oversee the department in an interim capacity.

While Kaushik’s credentials are not in question, concerns have emerged over the rehabilitation timelines being set for players and whether return-to-play protocols are being applied consistently.

Rana’s recurring hamstring injury has been one of the major talking points. Questions have also been raised over the fitness assessment that allowed him to return after a lengthy injury layoff.

Washington Sundar’s repeated hamstring problems have also become a concern, particularly given that he is still relatively young and has now experienced multiple injury setbacks.

There are similar questions surrounding Reddy’s decision to increase his bowling speed significantly. It remains unclear whether the increased workload was sufficiently monitored and whether the sudden jump in pace contributed to his latest injury.

The issue has also extended beyond individual cases, with questions being asked about the communication between the CoE and selectors.

“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,” a BCCI official tracking developments at the CoE told PTI on condition of anonymity.

The official also pointed to the uncertainty surrounding 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 now expected to review the broader injury-management structure, with Saikia’s meeting with Laxman likely to be an important part of that process.

– Ends