Virat Kohli found himself at the centre of a debate after reports emerged claiming that the former India captain completed his mandatory pre-season fitness test in London, rather than at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, where the rest of his teammates underwent the assessment.

According to a report in Dainik Jagran, Kohli had sought prior permission from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take his fitness test abroad, as he has been residing in London with his family during the off-season. The report further quoted a BCCI official who admitted he was unsure whether similar exemptions had ever been granted to other players in the past.

In contrast, the rest of India’s senior squad, including ODI captain Rohit Sharma, Test skipper Shubman Gill, and T20I leader Suryakumar Yadav, reported to the National Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on 1 September. The fitness evaluations included the standard Yo-Yo test as well as a DXA scan, a diagnostic tool used to measure bone density and overall physical readiness.