Different Rules? Virat Kohli’s London Fitness Test Sparks BCCI Privilege Debate

As a recent development in Virat Kohli’s absence from the fitness test held in Bengaluru, it has been reported that the veteran batter completed his assessment in London. This move, seen by many as a privileged exception from the BCCI, has sparked a debate around the fairness of the board's fitness protocols..

Kohli Skips Bengaluru; Completes Fitness Test in London Instead

Several Indian players, including Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shubman Gill, completed their fitness tests, comprising both the Yo-Yo Test and the Branco Test, on Sunday at the Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru.

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Kohli, who was expected to report in Bengaluru as well, did not respond to the BCCI’s message regarding his availability. However, recent reports confirm that the 36-year-old completed his fitness test in London, with proper documentation submitted to the board.

The former captain, who last played for India during the 2025 Champions Trophy, has been on an extended break, currently featuring in just one format for the national side.. With the Australian tour scheduled for October, speculation around the potential return of both Rohit Sharma and Kohli, amid ongoing retirement rumours, has intensified.

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Kohli Clears Test from London, But Sparks Debate Over BCCI's Flexibility

Rohit, who appeared for the fitness test, reportedly passed with top marks. Meanwhile, Kohli, although unavailable for the Bengaluru session, has now cleared his test from London and is likely to rejoin the ODI squad.

However, this exception granted by the BCCI has stirred major debate. While Kohli’s London-based test may be seen as a one-off, it raises a larger question for the board: should geographic flexibility in fitness testing become standard protocol, or remain an exclusive privilege for select players?

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