Former India cricketer Manoj Tiwary has sparked a fresh debate in Indian cricket by claiming that fitness standards were selectively used against Rohit Sharma in the past. Speaking about the Bronco Test—a gruelling endurance drill introduced in 2019 as a replacement for the yo-yo test—Tiwary suggested that the move was aimed at sidelining the current India skipper from One-Day International (ODI) selection.
Tiwary, who has never shied away from voicing his opinions, alleged that “someone didn’t want Rohit Sharma in the ODI setup back then” and the fitness criteria appeared designed to work against him.
What is the Bronco Test?
The Bronco Test, adopted by several international teams, requires players to run repeated shuttles of 20m, 40m, and 60m over a total of 1,200 metres. The drill tests both stamina and recovery speed. For the Indian team, a set benchmark was made mandatory, and failing to clear it meant players risked being excluded from selection.
While many hailed the test as a modern way to measure endurance, critics argued that cricket is a skill-dominated game and such rigid fitness bars could unfairly impact naturally gifted but differently built players.
Tiwary’s Allegations
According to Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, despite being one of India’s most consistent ODI batters, was painted as someone who lacked fitness. “The Bronco Test was suddenly brought in at a time when Rohit was in peak form. I felt it was an attempt to keep him out under the garb of fitness. Someone, somewhere didn’t want him in the team,” Tiwary reportedly said.
The former Bengal skipper further hinted that fitness parameters were never applied with the same stringency across all players, suggesting double standards in team management during that period.
Rohit’s Evolution
Ironically, Rohit Sharma went on to silence his critics with both bat and fitness improvements. Not only did he establish himself as India’s most prolific ODI opener, but he also evolved into one of the fittest cricketers in the squad. His transformation helped him take over as India’s full-time captain across formats.
A Wider Debate
Tiwary’s remarks have reignited the larger discussion around fitness benchmarks in Indian cricket. Should skill outweigh fitness in selections? Or should modern cricket demand uncompromising physical standards?
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not officially responded to Tiwary’s comments, his claims add weight to the long-standing suspicion among fans that selection policies have not always been uniform.
As India continues its push for global dominance under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, the controversy underlines how critical and often political selection debates have been in shaping careers—even for legends of the game.
