Laxman Defends Injury Management Amid Indian Cricket Crisis

V.V.S. Laxman, the head of the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE), spoke about the ongoing injury crisis in Indian cricket, particularly the recent absences of Jasprit Bumrah and B. Sai Sudharsan from the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. During a press interaction at the CoE, he defended the institution's injury management and recovery protocols.

Laxman emphasized the strong coordination between the CoE, team management, and Sports Science & Medicine staff, dismissing the notion of assigning blame for the injuries. He acknowledged a trend of players being declared fit only to sustain new injuries shortly thereafter but maintained that this was not a significant concern. He clarified that the CoE's role extends beyond rehabilitation.

Both Bumrah and Sudharsan were conditionally included in the squad for the Tests against Sri Lanka but did not receive fitness clearances. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia noted that selection meetings occur weeks in advance, allowing for the possibility of players recovering in time. The CoE is currently without a Head of Sports Science following Nitin Patel's departure, with Laxman stating that the search for a replacement is ongoing and prioritizing quality candidates.