Reports: BCCI to organise fitness assessment camp at NCA for 25 non-Test players

As per the latest developments, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to hold a camp for over 25 non-Test players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, which gets underway on March 26. The board has apparently asked all national players, who are not a part of the current Test squad, to report at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.

The players will undergo a 10-day fitness grind as injury concerns have been a major issue for the national team lately. The likes of KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Hardik Pandya have missed many matches in recent months amid fitness issues. In order to counter the same, the national selection committee reportedly advised BCCI to conduct a camp and assess players’ physical conditions.

KL Rahul, Yuzvendra Chahal among notable names to join the camp

According to Cricbuzz, the camp was scheduled to start on Saturday (March 5) while the players were asked to report a day before. All national-level players, contracted or non-contracted, have been asked to join this camp. This list includes the likes of Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, KL Rahul, Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar.

It must be noted that the players participating in the ongoing Ranji Trophy will have to reach Bangalore after the final round league games, which end on Sunday (March 6). Notably, the likes of Surya Kumar Yadav, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar, who sustained injuries recently, are already undergoing rehabilitation at the NCA.

“There are about 25 of them. The NCA will assess their fitness levels ahead of the IPL. The purpose is to have a camp before they disperse for their respective IPL duties,” a BCCI official, in direct knowledge of the development, was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Notably, it has also been learnt that all-rounder Axar Patel, who’s warming the benches in the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka, will be available for selection for the second game. “Axar Patel is currently undergoing his rehab and is not available for selection for the first Test. He will be assessed later to ascertain his selection for the second Test,” he added.