Laxman defended the CoE amidst a growing player injury crisis.
On Sunday (August 9), BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia met Laxman to review the rehabilitation and injury-management programme at the facility in Bengaluru. Saikia also addressed the media along with Laxman, BCCI president Mithun Manhas and other senior officials.
During the press conference, Laxman was questioned how the CoE handle the case of Nitish, who is recovering from a left quadriceps injury that kept him out of the squads for UK tour and Zimbabwe T20Is.
Laxman emphasized that conversations with Nitish focus on handling the extreme physical and workload demands unique to an all-rounder. He noted that injuries are an unavoidable part of a cricketer's career, and the CoE prioritizes guiding players through the psychological and mental toll of rehabilitation.
Because of modern cricket's relentless schedule, the CoE chief highlighted that players must learn to proactively maintain their fitness using small breaks during active series.
"I think you know the mental side of a player undergoing rehab or getting injured is something which we always require to keep in mind. So the player also knows that he is injured. The player also knows that what is there he needs to do to get fit and be able to participate in the commitments again," Laxman told reporters.
"Now, from the CoE side, we make sure that we make the player understand the workload. In this case, it is Nitish being an all-rounder obviously, there is a lot of workload on him and how he becomes fitter not only when he is playing various tournaments but also when he is not part of any tournaments. And I think it is an ongoing process now of getting better in your fitness levels because everyone knows now you go to the IPL, you play for a state franchise, and then you start playing domestic cricket or international cricket. So while you are playing the matches also, unlike before where there was an off-season where you actually can get better at your fitness, the player should know that while playing the matches how he productively and meaningfully uses the breaks to get fit," he added.
"So I think the conversation with Nitish is injury is part and parcel... what is it that you can do to get better to handle the workload of being an all-rounder. And it is across the board, it is not only Nitish... across the board, you want to tell and that is why the screening at the start of the season is very, very important because if you see in the presentation the parameters we have for all the fitness tests, the NFTC (National Fitness Testing Criteria) tests are mentioned there," he continued.
Laxman revealed the CoE has introduced pre-season screenings using the Bronco test, brought in by strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux.
"So all the players, all the contracted players and the targeted players come before the start of the season, and they undergo a string of fitness tests which you must have seen with various machines out there and on-field activities. There is one new introduction which is fantastic, and Adrian got in that which is your Bronco test. As I mentioned that while you are playing it is very important for you to remain fit," said Laxman.
Bronco test replaced the grueling Yo-Yo test during active series, as the latter is too physically demanding for quick recovery.
"Now Yo-Yo is one test which we test the player's anaerobic capacity. Now Yo-Yo cannot be done when you are part of a series because it can be really grueling for your body to recover. So the Bronco test is it becomes like a conditioning session, it also indirectly tests the fitness levels, the anaerobic fitness levels of a player and that is taken on board across the various age groups and we do that through the season. So that is something which can be repeatable," he concluded.
(With ANI Inputs)