VVS Laxman defends BCCI Centre of Excellence amid player injury crisis

VVS Laxman, head of the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, has defended the facility following a surge in injuries among Indian cricketers. Addressing a press conference, Laxman stated that the CoE is not merely a rehabilitation center but a hub for achieving player excellence, noting that injuries are "part and parcel of any player's career."

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia visited the CoE to review injury management protocols as several key players, including Jasprit Bumrah, B Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya, and Washington Sundar, face fitness issues ahead of the series against Sri Lanka. Laxman clarified that the selection process includes detailed fitness reports from the CoE to ensure transparency, often marking players as "subject to fitness" to manage expectations.

Challenges were also highlighted regarding the vacancy of the Head of Sports Science and Medicine role, which has remained unfilled since Nitin Patel's departure in early 2025 due to difficulties in securing suitable international candidates. Additionally, concerns were raised by CoE sources that financial and franchise pressures during the IPL lead players to play through injuries, complicating their long-term recovery and international availability.