Indian Test captain and T20 vice-captain Shubman Gill has arrived at the BCCI Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru for preparations and fitness tests ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup. Along with Gill, ODI captain Rohit Sharma and fast bowler Mohammed Siraj have also reached the CoE for pre-season fitness tests. Members of the Indian team will gather in Dubai on September 4 to prepare for their first match of the tournament against the host United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 9.
Rohit Sharma, 38, who has retired from T20 and Test cricket, also arrived at the CoE for fitness tests. This process may be completed by Sunday, and it will be interesting to see how Rohit, who now plays only in the ODI format, begins the new season. Rohit may go on the Australia tour for the ODI series against Australia in October. During this fitness test, players have to undergo the Bronco test and Yo-Yo test. According to reports, the players’ first day of tests have been completed. On Sunday, the second day’s tests will be held and then the results will come out.
Gill recently missed captaining North Zone against East Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy quarter-final due to a viral fever. He was recovering from the illness at his home in Chandigarh and has now reached Bengaluru after fully recovering. This time, players will arrive in Dubai from different places, which is different from the previous tradition when the entire team traveled together from Mumbai. There is a possibility that Gill may fly directly to Dubai from Bengaluru. On the other hand, fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has also arrived for the tests, who is going to play the Asia Cup.
Apart from Gill, wicketkeeper-batsman Jitesh Sharma has also reached the CoE for pre-tournament preparations. Shardul Thakur will also go to the CoE soon for pre-season tests. Shardul Thakur will captain West Zone in the Duleep Trophy semi-final, while Jaiswal and Sundar, who are on the standby list for the Asia Cup, will also participate in the last four matches of the domestic season.