The next ODI World Cup is scheduled for 2027, by which time India’s current ODI captain Rohit Sharma will be over 40 years old. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has recently introduced the “Bronco Test”, a new fitness assessment test. This test was launched after several players, especially fast bowlers, faced fitness-related issues during the India vs England Test series. The main objective of the Bronco Test is to maintain a high level of fitness and improve players’ aerobic capacity.
However, former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary believes that the BCCI has introduced this test to indirectly push Rohit Sharma towards retirement before the 2027 ODI World Cup. Everyone knows Rohit is not the fittest cricketer, but his performance has been so strong that it is hard to keep him out of the playing XI. According to Manoj, the Bronco Test might have been introduced specifically for such players. Currently, Rohit Sharma is 38 years old.
Speaking to CricTracker, Manoj Tiwary said:
“I think it will be difficult to keep Virat Kohli out of the 2027 World Cup plans, but I doubt if they will include Rohit Sharma. I closely analyse what’s happening in Indian cricket, and in my opinion, this Bronco Test, which was introduced a few days ago, is mainly for players like Rohit and others who, I believe, the management doesn’t want to see in the team’s future plans.”
Who is behind the Bronco Test?
Manoj Tiwary also raised questions about the timing of introducing this test. Why was the Bronco Test launched now, right after Gautam Gambhir became the head coach of the Indian team in July? According to him, the answer lies with the team’s new strength and conditioning coach, Adrian le Roux, who joined in June and introduced the test after taking charge.
Manoj added:
“The Bronco Test is one of the toughest fitness standards ever introduced in Indian cricket. But the question is, why now? Why wasn’t it implemented when the new head coach started his very first series? Whose idea was it? Who approved it? I don’t have a clear answer to that. But from what I see, if Rohit Sharma doesn’t work extremely hard on his fitness, it will be very difficult for him, and I feel the Bronco Test might stop him from making it to the squad.”
Manoj Tiwary also supports the Bronco Test
While Manoj raised concerns, he also supported the test in principle. He said:
“I believe this test has been introduced to set the highest possible fitness standards. At the same time, I also think it is being used to phase out certain players, just like what happened back in 2011. After India became champions, the Yo-Yo Test was introduced, which eventually pushed out several senior players like Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh. There are always deeper strategies behind such moves. This is my personal opinion. Let’s see what happens next.”