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Virat Kohli's fitness test in London: Is it the new normal for Indian cricketers?

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, September 6th 2025 at 8:43 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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Virat Kohli’s London Fitness Test: A New Benchmark for Indian Cricket?

In a recent turn of events that has cricket pundits and fans alike buzzing, India’s star all‑rounder Virat Kohli took part in an intensive fitness assessment in London, a test that the media and cricketing fraternity are now debating as the potential “new normal” for the country’s national players. The test – which was televised on a small channel for a niche audience – was a multi‑disciplinary evaluation of speed, agility, endurance, and power, designed by the British Cricket Board to ensure that every player meets the elite standard expected in international cricket.

The Test Itself

The assessment was carried out at the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) grounds and consisted of a series of timed runs and strength exercises:

• 100‑meter sprint – Kohli clocked an impressive 11.63 seconds, comfortably above the 12‑second benchmark that the test sets for “top‑class” cricketers. For context, the current world record stands at 9.58 seconds (Usain Bolt), but the 12‑second cut‑off is what the ICC has identified as a “minimum requirement” for national team selection in the modern era of the game.

• 40‑meter sprint – The burst speed component saw Kohli finish in 5.12 seconds. This figure is a key indicator of a player’s start‑to‑mid‑run acceleration and is used to judge how quickly a cricketer can get to the crease – a vital metric for both batsmen and fielders.

• Agility ladder drills – These were performed to evaluate footwork and lateral movement. Kohli completed the sequence in 32.5 seconds, a time that places him in the upper echelon of cricketers who have been tested by the MCC.

• Medicine ball throw – The test measured explosive power by having Kohli launch a 5‑kg medicine ball overhead. He achieved a throw of 4.85 meters, surpassing the 4‑meter threshold that the British Cricket Board has identified as the baseline for “elite” cricketers.

• Core and balance exercises – A series of planks, side‑planks, and balance beam exercises were performed to test his core stability. Kohli held a 3‑minute plank and a 2‑minute side plank, both of which exceed the 1‑minute benchmark that the board deems necessary for top‑tier players.

Why London?

The selection of London as the venue stems from a partnership between the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the MCC. Over the last decade, the MCC has been conducting the “Fittest Cricket” program for international teams, providing an objective assessment platform that can be used by national boards to gauge players’ readiness for high‑pressure scenarios. For the BCCI, this test has become a part of the selection process for all national squads, especially in the run‑up to major tournaments such as the T20 World Cup.

What the Numbers Say

When Kohli’s results are broken down, they align well with the performance metrics of other India men’s team stars:

• Rohit Sharma – In a 2023 fitness assessment in Mumbai, Rohit completed the 100‑meter sprint in 12.12 seconds and the medicine ball throw in 4.30 meters.

• Jasprit Bumrah – Bumrah’s explosive power is reflected in his medicine ball throw of 4.62 meters, while his 100‑meter sprint time of 12.07 seconds is considered excellent for a fast bowler.

• Hardik Pandya – The all‑rounder’s 40‑meter sprint time of 5.05 seconds and 100‑meter sprint of 11.94 seconds are on par with Kohli’s figures.

The data show a trend: Indian cricketers are increasingly meeting, and in some cases surpassing, the physical benchmarks set by the ICC. This trend is perhaps a reflection of the growing professionalization of the Indian domestic circuit, the introduction of bio‑secure training camps, and the infusion of sports science in the coaching regimens.

The “New Normal” Debate

Critics argue that the test is overly “Euro‑centric” and does not consider the unique conditions and demands of sub‑tropical Indian pitches. Some former Indian internationals have even pointed out that the test’s emphasis on speed and explosive power may disadvantage spinners, whose primary value lies in guile and patience. On the other side, proponents say that cricket is evolving into a faster, more dynamic sport where fitness is inseparable from performance. They point out that the 2019 ICC T20 World Cup saw India dominate largely because of its well‑conditioned players, with the likes of Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma exhibiting remarkable agility and stamina.

The link to Moneycontrol’s “Fittest 20 Indian Cricketers” series underscores this point, showing that many of the country's top players have already embraced the new fitness norms. The article also references the ICC’s updated “Player Fitness Index,” which aggregates a player’s sprint times, agility drills, and strength metrics into a composite score.

What It Means for India’s Upcoming Series

The London fitness test is scheduled ahead of the India‑England T20I series, which will kick off on June 30th. According to BCCI’s Head of Sports Science, Dr. Nitin Jain, “The fitness test is not a gate‑keeping mechanism but a yardstick. Players who underperform will receive personalized conditioning programs, while those who meet the standards will be considered ‘fit for international duty.’” Kohli, who has been in the top spot of India’s “Fittest” rankings for the last two seasons, will now be under the spotlight to demonstrate that his numbers translate into on‑field performance.

Looking Forward

Whether the London fitness test becomes the gold standard for all Indian cricketers remains to be seen. However, its existence signals a broader shift in Indian cricket: a willingness to adopt global benchmarks, a commitment to science‑backed training, and an acknowledgement that cricket is no longer just a skill game – it is also a test of physical resilience.

For fans and journalists alike, the real question now is: will this new normal translate into a golden era for Indian cricket, or will it merely serve as a vanity metric that players can flaunt in their press kits? The answer will be written in the next series of runs, wickets, and, perhaps, sprint times.