BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia to Meet VVS Laxman at CoE Amid Player Injury Concerns
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia is scheduled to travel to Bengaluru on August 9, 2026, to hold a review meeting with Head of Cricket VVS Laxman at the Centre of Excellence. The visit aims to assess the ongoing rehabilitation processes following a series of player injuries across India’s Test and white-ball squads ahead of the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.
What Happened
With multiple national players currently sidelined due to physical setbacks, the BCCI administration is seeking a direct assessment of player recoveries. Devajit Saikia’s planned visit to the Centre of Excellence will allow the board to review individual rehabilitation timelines firsthand. The sports science setup is currently being overseen by interim sports science head Dhananjay Kaushik following the departure of former permanent head Nitin Patel in early 2025.
According to a BCCI source quoted by Deccan Herald, Saikia will take stock of the situation alongside Laxman. It remains unconfirmed whether men’s national team head coach Gautam Gambhir or selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar will attend the discussions virtually.
Key Highlights
- Administrative Review: BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and Head of Cricket VVS Laxman will meet at the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru on August 9, 2026.
- Ruled Out of Sri Lanka Tour: Jasprit Bumrah (left knee swelling) and B Sai Sudharsan (toe injury) have been ruled out of the upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka.
- Test Squad Rehabilitation: Akash Deep is undergoing recovery for a lower-back stress fracture, Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy are managing hamstring injuries, and Washington Sundar is dealing with a quadriceps issue.
- White-Ball Squad Recovery: Hardik Pandya, Varun Chakravarthy, and Prince Yadav are currently undergoing rehabilitation at the Bengaluru facility.
- Medical Leadership: Operations at the Centre of Excellence are currently managed by interim sports science head Dhananjay Kaushik.
Why This Matters
The high volume of simultaneous player injuries has brought the board’s medical and rehabilitation framework under review ahead of important international assignments. The discussions will provide the BCCI leadership with clarity on player readiness and recovery schedules before final squad arrangements and operational decisions are made for the Sri Lanka tour.
What to Watch Next
The outcome of the August 9 meeting between Saikia and Laxman is expected to clarify the progress of all recovering players. As of now, the board has not made official announcements regarding replacement players or squad adjustments for the Sri Lanka series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BCCI secretary visiting the Centre of Excellence?
Devajit Saikia is visiting the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to evaluate the progress of several injured Indian cricketers currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Which players are currently ruled out of the Sri Lanka Test series?
Jasprit Bumrah (left knee swelling) and B Sai Sudharsan (toe injury) have been ruled out of the upcoming Test tour of Sri Lanka.
Who is currently leading the sports science operations at the CoE?
Dhananjay Kaushik is overseeing operations as the interim sports science head following the departure of Nitin Patel in early 2025.
Source: Based on reporting from CricTracker and Deccan Herald.