Team India players, including Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, completed the Bronco Test during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. Notably, BCCI’s strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, introduced the fitness drill into the Indian cricket system, which received mixed reactions.
The Bronco Test is a fitness exercise that involves repeated shuttle runs over distances of 20, 40, and 60 metres. In each set, a player sprints 60 metres and back, then 40 metres and back, followed by 20 metres and back. The full test consists of five sets, totaling 1,200 metres of running without any breaks.
BCCI Shares Video of Team India Players Performing the Bronco Test
On September 12, the BCCI shared a video of Team India players performing the Bronco Test under the supervision of coach Gautam Gambhir.
BCCI’s Strength and conditioning coach, Adrian Le Roux, said that the drill has been adapted from other sports into the Indian team setup. He stated that the test is a training tool to improve fitness and a measurement to track players’ aerobic conditioning and monitor progress over time.
“The run we did today is the Bronco run. It’s not a new run or a new measurement. It’s been around for a number of years in different sporting codes and it’s just something we introduced recently within the team environment,” Le Roux said.
“The idea is two-fold. One is we can use it as a training mechanism and the second one we can also use it as a measurement. So we get a good idea where the players are in terms of their aerobic fitness and if we’re moving in the right direction,” he added.
It Also Allows the Player to Assess Himself – Adrian Le Roux
Adrian Le Roux said that the Bronco Test is a fitness drill that can be performed anywhere. He added that it allows players to assess their own fitness levels while traveling or during training.
“Well, it’s a field test. In other words, we can do it at any any place, any ground around the world. As we travel, we can always use it. It also allows the player to assess himself sometimes. So it’s a very functional test that you can do any place,” Le Roux said.
Adrian Le Roux Joined as Team India’s Strength and Conditioning Coach in June 2025
Adrian Le Roux returned as BCCI’s strength and conditioning coach in June 2025. He recommended introducing the Bronco Test into the squad’s fitness routine. Le Roux previously served in the same role for the BCCI from January 2002 to May 2003 during the John Wright coaching era.
He then worked with Cricket South Africa and was associated with IPL teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS).
The Men in Blue enjoyed a long break before their Asia Cup 2025 opener against the UAE. They secured a nine-wicket victory over the hosts in Dubai on Wednesday, September 10. The team will face Pakistan in their next group-stage match at the same venue on September 14.