The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been facing a major setback with its headless sports science and medicine department for nearly eight months. Former head Nitin Patel left, and despite advertising for a replacement over three months ago, no suitable candidate has been found. This has left a gap in the structural functioning of the organization, especially in overseeing injured players’ rehab programs.
The absence of a sports science head has led to issues like Shubman Gill missing the Test series against South Africa due to a neck injury, Rishabh Pant’s foot fracture needing attention, and Mohammed Shami’s injury and rehab status causing controversy. The delay in filling this critical position has impacted the accountability and decision-making process regarding player injuries and workload management.
While the BCCI claims to have shortlisted candidates for the position, talks with past experts like Andrew Leipus and Andrew Kokinos have failed. Responsibilities of the sports science head include reviewing contractual arrangements with players and minimizing injury risks through physical preparation. With the demanding workload of players across all formats, Indian cricket cannot afford further delays in appointing a qualified individual to lead the sports science department.
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