Growing concerns have emerged regarding the impact of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise pressures on player health, with insiders at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru suggesting that athletes are frequently forced to compete while carrying injuries. This trend is creating significant hurdles for medical staff tasked with managing the recovery and eventual return of these cricketers to the international stage.
According to a source at the BCCI’s CoE, the practice of forcing players to compete through injuries during the IPL before sending them to the rehabilitation facility is making the management of their return to international cricket increasingly difficult. The source explained that the human body has specific load limits, and overuse or stress injuries—particularly in older players—become unpredictable regarding recovery timelines.
“Players play through injuries during the IPL due to franchise and financial pressures and then are dumped onto unsuspecting CoE physios,” the source told ANI. While noting that team and CoE physios remain competent and prioritize player safety, the source acknowledged that this dynamic complicates the decision-making process for selectors, coaches, and captains.
These remarks were shared on Sunday at a press conference in Bengaluru, where CoE head V V S Laxman addressed the media alongside BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia and BCCI President Mithun Manhas. The discussion highlighted the ongoing struggle to balance the immense financial investments of franchise cricket with the physical demands placed on national team athletes.
The timing of these concerns is critical, as India faces a growing injury list ahead of their upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. Left-handed batter Sai Sudharsan is the latest player ruled unavailable, joining a list that already includes Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Washington Sundar.
This injury crisis has reignited debates over player workload management and the sustainability of the current cricket calendar. Recent headlines have also underscored broader trends in the sport, ranging from bizarre run-outs like Himmat Singh’s accidental kick to individual stories like Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s shifting career goals and Sakib Hussain’s personal milestones following IPL success.