Former India batter and BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman has defended the organisation's work amid growing concerns over injuries to Indian cricketers, insisting that the facility's responsibilities extend far beyond rehabilitation.
Laxman also revealed the difficulties faced by the BCCI in finding a permanent replacement for former Head of Sports Science and Medicine Nitin Patel, who departed from the role.
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VVS Laxman Says CoE Is Not Just a Rehab Centre
Addressing the increasing scrutiny surrounding player injuries, Laxman stressed that the Centre of Excellence has a much wider mandate than simply helping injured players recover.
“CoE is not a rehab centre. There's a bigger responsibility and mandate given by the BCCI,” Laxman said.
He emphasised that injuries are an unavoidable part of a professional cricketer's career, while highlighting the importance of monitoring players closely to reduce risks and manage their workload.
“Injuries are part and parcel of any player's career. That's why monitoring system is very critical,” Laxman said.
BCCI Struggles to Replace Nitin Patel
Laxman also opened up about the ongoing challenge of permanently filling the Head of Sports Science and Medicine position following Nitin Patel's departure.
“After Nitin (Patel) left, we couldn't fill his shoes,” Laxman admitted.
He revealed that the BCCI had several candidates in consideration but faced setbacks during the recruitment process.
“Everything was agreed upon; Andrew (Leipus) backed off, citing family reasons. We shortlisted five candidates; No.1 was Australian, can't name him. He suddenly backed out, saying he can't move to Bangalore,” Laxman explained.
According to Laxman, the position requires a full-time presence rather than being treated as a consultant role.
“It's not a consultant role. You want the person to be there. It's day-to-day monitoring,” he added.
Another Candidate Also Backed Out
Laxman revealed that another high-profile candidate also initially agreed to take up the position before withdrawing.
“Another professional, head of All Blacks...he agreed and backed out,” he said.
The former India batter explained that finding the right candidate requires more than just experience and stature.
“To fill in that position, not just stature and experience, but understanding of Indian cricketers is important,” Laxman said.
He added that while the Head of Sports Science and Medicine position remains vacant, the vertical heads at the Centre of Excellence have stepped up to handle the responsibilities.
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Laxman Rejects Blame Game Over Injuries
With several Indian players dealing with injuries in recent times, Laxman also urged against looking for individuals to blame.
He stressed that the focus should instead be on strengthening monitoring systems and understanding the demands placed on players.
“We don't use the term blame then we will be trying to find scapegoats,” Laxman said.
His comments come amid increased attention on India's injury-management system, with the BCCI continuing to work towards strengthening its sports science and medical infrastructure.