Virat Kohli now lives in London with his family. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly granted a special exemption to senior batter Virat Kohli, allowing him to complete his mandatory fitness test in London, while the rest of the Indian squad underwent the same assessments at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru last week.
This unusual move has sparked debate and added an unexpected talking point in Indian cricket ahead of the Asia Cup 2025.
Top players such as Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj were assessed on August 29, 30, and 31 at the CoE as part of the fitness evaluations conducted ahead of a busy international season later this year.
According to Dainik Jagran, Virat Kohli, who lives in London with his wife Anushka Sharma and their two children, was permitted to undergo the test under supervision there, with the results submitted to the BCCI. However, this special concession has drawn scrutiny and put the board under the spotlight.
BCCI Criticized for Alleged Preferential Treatment of Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli, who has retired from T20Is and Tests, remains available only for One-Day Internationals. He is expected to feature in India’s upcoming ODI series against Australia this October and November.
The BCCI received individual fitness reports from its team of strength and conditioning trainers and physiotherapists, which included Kohli’s assessment conducted in London.
A senior BCCI official reportedly acknowledged that Virat Kohli “would have obtained prior approval” to take the test abroad, though the official did not specifically address why the standard protocol was relaxed in this case.
The decision has sparked debate over whether other players, particularly those recovering overseas or managing personal commitments outside India, might be granted similar exemptions in the future.
In recent years, the BCCI has enforced stricter fitness standards, given the growing importance of player workload management and injury prevention. It is now common practice to require fitness clearances before major series or tournaments to ensure players are fully prepared and to minimize the risk of last-minute withdrawals.
