Archive · 2 Sep 2026
BCCI Tightens Selection Policy Amid Rising Player Injuries
India's cricket board is reportedly changing how it chooses players for squads.
It wants to be extremely sure that players are fit before announcing them.
Jasprit Bumrah and three other players were listed for matches against Afghanistan with conditions attached.
They must show that they are healthy enough to play.
The matches are planned for September 13, 15 and 17 in New Delhi.
Several Indian players have recently suffered injuries.
The Centre of Excellence was criticized for how it handled some players.
The new approach is meant to reduce late withdrawals and replacement announcements.
The BCCI reportedly plans to name players only when their fitness is firmly confirmed.
Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy were selected conditionally for the Afghanistan T20I series.
The players must prove their fitness before the series begins on September 13.
The reported policy change follows concerns over rising injuries and criticism of the Centre of Excellence.
India is scheduled to play Afghanistan in New Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17.
- Who
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India, Jasprit Bumrah and other India players.
- What
- The BCCI is reportedly introducing a stricter squad-selection and fitness-review process.
- When
- The change was reported ahead of the Afghanistan T20I series, scheduled for September 13, 15 and 17.
- Where
- The reported matches will be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
- Why
- Rising player injuries, late squad withdrawals and criticism of the Centre of Excellence prompted the reported policy shift.
Critics
BCCI's Reported Response
Handling player fitness
Critics
Critics have raised concerns about the Centre of Excellence's handling of players after several injury-related issues.
BCCI's Reported Response
The BCCI is reportedly responding by requiring greater certainty about a player's fitness before including the player in a squad.
Late squad changes
Critics
Previous selections reportedly included players who were later ruled out, requiring replacements.
BCCI's Reported Response
The stricter review process is intended to reduce such late withdrawals by confirming availability earlier.
- Reported fitness standard
- Players would reportedly be selected only when the BCCI is more than fully confident of their availability.
- Conditionally named players
- Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
- Series
- India versus Afghanistan T20I series.
- Match dates
- September 13, 15 and 17.
- Venue
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.
- Reported reason
- Recent injuries and criticism of the Centre of Excellence's handling of players.