'CoE is not a rehabilitation centre. It is a centre where we strive for excellence every day' — VVS Laxman

VVS Laxman spoke at the BCCI Centre of Excellence on Sunday, and he drew a line: the facility is not a place for players to recover from injuries. His tenure as head ends later this year, and he was answering questions about India's recurring fitness issues.

Laxman dismissed talk of a disconnect between the CoE, the team management and the selectors. Fitness reports reach the selection committee, he said, and players stay out until they clear the set benchmarks.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia pointed out that selections are made three to four weeks before a tour, when full fitness status is still unclear. The head of sports science and medicine post has sat empty since Nitin Patel left in March 2025.