BCCI Faces Mounting Injury Bill
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is confronting a significant financial outlay for player injury management, projecting an expenditure of ₹127 crore for its Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for the 2026-27 financial year. This represents a substantial increase of approximately ₹35 crore from the ₹92 crore spent in the previous year, underscoring growing concerns over recurring player injuries within Indian cricket.
Rising Player Rehabilitation Needs
An annual report from the CoE, covering April 2025 to March 2026, revealed that 32 leading men's team players underwent injury rehabilitation. Of these, 20 were BCCI centrally contracted cricketers, with the remaining 12 from the targeted or India A categories. Across both men's and women's cricket, the CoE's Sports Science and Medicine team managed injuries for 68 players over a 20-month period. The majority of these cases involved soft-tissue injuries.
High-profile players who have sought rehabilitation at the CoE include Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya. Notably, some players like Harshit Rana, Hardik Pandya, and Nitish Kumar Reddy spent at least four months at the facility within the last 18 months, indicating serious or persistent issues. Rishabh Pant's foot fracture, sustained during a Test match in Manchester in July 2025, was highlighted as a significant impact injury case.
Concerns Over Player Workload and Coordination
The escalating injury rate has drawn criticism and concern from key figures in Indian cricket. India captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir have both publicly voiced their worries regarding the frequent breakdowns of players and the subsequent impact on tour planning and team stability.
Adding to the challenges, the CoE has faced coordination issues. The crucial post of head of Sports Science and Medicine remained vacant from March 2025 until recently, when the BCCI finally advertised the position. This leadership gap has raised questions about the board's comprehensive approach to injury prevention and the seamless coordination between various medical teams.
While the ₹127 crore projected outlay primarily addresses injury treatment, the CoE's expenses also encompass administrative costs, various courses, and match-related spending, reflecting the broad scope of its operations.