Rohit Sharma to undergo fitness test at BCCI CoE before making India comeback in Australia: Report

Rohit Sharma has not represented the Indian team since he captained them to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in March, helping the Men in Blue win a second ICC trophy in as many years. The ‘Hitman’ was expected to make his international comeback in Bangladesh this month, only for that to get rescheduled for next year, meaning he will have to wait till the tour of Australia in October in order to wear the iconic blue kit again.

Also Read | Huge rush for tickets in India’s white-ball tour of Australia with Sydney ODI, Canberra T20I fully sold out

Rohit, however, will have to go through a certain formality before he makes his first international appearance since he announced his retirement from Test cricket in May. According to a report on The Times of India, the India ODI captain, who was leading the team across formats until last year, will have to report at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on 13 September in order to prove his fitness ahead of the trip Down Under.

“Yes, Rohit will be at the BCCI’s CoE from September 13 for fitness tests. He will be based here for two-three days and will also practice at the facility to fine-tune his preparations for the Australia white-ball tour in November.

“With the CoE also staging the Duleep Trophy final at its main ground (A) from September 11-15, Rohit will undergo fitness tests and train at a different ground at the same facility,” a source was quoted by the newspaper as saying.

Rohit to undergo Bronco test?

The report adds that Rohit will have to undergo the Bronco test , a rugby-centric fitness test introduced recently by newly-appointed strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux that primarily tests the endurance of a player.

Additionally, Rohit and fellow batting stalwart Virat Kohli – who had announced his Test retirement just five days after the ‘Hitman’ – might also play the three-match one-day series between India A and Australia A in order to prepare for the tour Down Under.

Also Read | ‘Rohit Sharma not wanted in Team India, Bronco test introduced for players like him’: Ex-India cricketer

Rohit has 11,168 runs to his name in 273 ODI appearances with 32 centuries and 58 half-centuries, and had captained the Indian team to the final of the 2023 ICC World Cup at home, with the Men in Blue bulldozing their way through the tournament before losing to Australia in the summit clash.

The tour of Australia, meanwhile, will be taking place after the two-match Test series against West Indies at home, with the three ODIs taking place on 19, 23 and 25 October in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.