Bhubaneswar : The introduction of the Bronco Test in Indian cricket has stirred a wave of controversy, with former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary suggesting it might be a strategic move to push ODI captain Rohit Sharma out of the team. This new fitness test, designed to measure high-intensity endurance through continuous shuttle runs, is considered even tougher than the previously used Yo-Yo Test.
Manoj Tiwary raised pointed questions about the timing and intent behind introducing this rigorous fitness drill. “I think it is for players like Rohit Sharma and someone which I believe they don’t want them to be part of the team in the future. And that’s why it has been introduced,” Tiwary said. He expressed skepticism about why the test was abruptly introduced at this stage rather than at the start of the new coaching regime. “Who introduced this? Who enforced this Bronco Test a few days back? It is a question for which I don’t have an answer,” he added.
Tiwary also drew parallels with past fitness benchmarks, which sidelined established players like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh despite their performances post the 2011 World Cup win. “I think it has been brought in, obviously, to set the fitness parameter at the highest level, but also I believe it has been introduced to keep a few players out,” he observed.
The Bronco Test demands players complete shuttle runs of 20, 40, and 60 meters five times continuously—totaling 1,200 meters—in roughly six minutes, emphasizing cardiovascular endurance aggressively. This test followed concerns over fitness observed during India’s recent England tour, where fitness gaps were evident.
Tiwary expressed doubt about Rohit’s ability to clear the test without hard fitness work, cautioning, “It is going to be difficult for Rohit Sharma if he doesn’t work really hard on his fitness. And I think he will be stopped at the Bronco Test.”
As India prepares for a new phase focusing on the 2027 World Cup, the Bronco Test stands as a potential gatekeeper, demanding peak fitness and signaling a continuing shift toward rigorous physical standards for national team selection.
This controversy adds a new chapter to the ongoing debate about the intersection of fitness, form, and team selection in Indian cricket, leaving fans and players alike watching closely how this fitness standard shapes the team’s future .
Discussion about this post