The BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru is the location for fitness tests as the Indian cricket team prepares for the 2025 Asia Cup. Test captain and T20 vice-captain Shubman Gill has arrived alongside ODI captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj for pre-season fitness evaluations. The Indian team is scheduled to convene in Dubai on September 4th to prepare for their tournament opener against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 9th.
Rohit Sharma, having retired from T20 and Test formats, is also participating in the fitness tests at the CoE. The testing is expected to be completed by Sunday. Sharma, who is now focused on ODIs, will be aiming for a strong start to the new season, potentially with an ODI series against Australia in October. The fitness regime includes the Bronco and Yo-Yo tests, with the first day of testing reportedly finished and results expected after the second day’s assessments on Sunday.
Shubman Gill was unable to participate in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final due to illness. He has now recovered from a viral fever and rejoined the team in Bengaluru. This year’s travel arrangements see players arriving in Dubai from various locations, a change from the previous practice of a unified departure from Mumbai. Gill may travel directly from Bengaluru to Dubai. Jasprit Bumrah, a fast bowler selected for the Asia Cup, has also arrived for the tests.
Moreover, wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma has joined the CoE for pre-tournament preparations. Shardul Thakur is also scheduled to undergo pre-season testing at the CoE. Thakur will captain West Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, and Jaiswal and Sundar, who are on the Asia Cup standby list, will also participate in the final four matches of the domestic season.
