‘No Point Looking for a Scapegoat’: VVS Laxman Defends CoE Amid Team India Injury Crisis
Laxman says injuries are part of professional sport and stresses better monitoring, rehabilitation and workload management.
Bengaluru, August 9, 2026: India’s growing injury list has put the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) under scrutiny ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. CoE head VVS Laxman, however, has rejected the idea of blaming any individual or department for the crisis.
Speaking at a press conference in Bengaluru on Sunday, Laxman said the CoE is not merely a rehabilitation centre and has a broader role in helping players achieve excellence.
He stressed that injuries are an inevitable part of professional sport and said the focus should instead be on effective monitoring systems.
India will begin their Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15, but several key players are unavailable. Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out after a knee injury and subsequent fluid retention issue, while Sai Sudharsan was also withdrawn due to persistent pain in his left toe.
Fast bowler Harshit Rana has raised further concerns after suffering another hamstring injury just two weeks after returning from a four-month layoff. His case has triggered questions about rehabilitation and return-to-play protocols.
Nitish Kumar Reddy’s situation has also highlighted workload concerns. The all-rounder had been working to increase his bowling speed by around 7-8 kmph, leading to an increased workload that affected his hamstring and quadriceps.
Laxman and senior CoE officials have held discussions with chief selector Ajit Agarkar regarding injured centrally contracted players, their rehabilitation and expected return timelines.
The CoE is also operating with a key vacancy, as the Head of Sports Science position has remained vacant since Nitin Patel’s resignation in early 2025.
With Akash Deep, Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy and Prince Yadav among other players dealing with fitness concerns, India’s management faces the challenge of improving coordination between medical teams, selectors and support staff.
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