Cricket meets rugby: Bronco Test challenges Indian players

Explainer

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, Updated At : 07:44 PM Aug 21, 2025 IST

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced the Bronco Test, a rugby-centric fitness assessment, to evaluate Indian cricketers’ endurance, speed and stamina. This test is designed to complement existing fitness evaluations like the Yo-Yo Test and 2-km run.

What is the Bronco Test?

The Bronco Test is a rugby-origin fitness test designed to assess aerobic endurance, stamina and recovery capacity.

In this test, players repeatedly run shuttles of 20m, 40m and 60m for a total distance of 1,200 metres.

It is a time-based test — athletes must complete the distance under a stipulated time (for elite players, around 5 minutes is considered very good).

It measures:

Aerobic capacity (VO₂ max)
Speed endurance
Ability to sustain intensity under fatigue

Why introduced by BCCI?

Indian cricket earlier relied mainly on the Yo-Yo test and 2-km time trials.

The Bronco test is thought to be more game-relevant, since cricket demands short sprints, quick recoveries and repeated efforts, similar to rugby movements.

Helps coaches and trainers assess whether a player is fit enough to withstand long matches (Tests, ODIs, T20s).

Other fitness tests in Indian cricket:

1. Yo-Yo Test

Adopted by BCCI from global football and hockey practices.
Involves running 20m shuttles at increasing speeds dictated by audio beeps.
Players must reach the line before the beep; if they miss twice, the test ends.
Measures aerobic endurance and recovery capacity.
Passing standard for Team India was set around 16.1-16.5 score.
Notable: Some big players (e.g., Yuvraj Singh, Ambati Rayudu) once struggled to clear it.

2. 2-km Time Trial Test

Introduced later as a simpler alternative.
Cricketers run 2 km on track within a set time:
Around 8 minutes 15 seconds for batsmen/spinners
8 minutes 30 seconds for fast bowlers
Criticised for not fully replicating cricket-specific physical demands.

3. Skinfold Test (Body fat percentage)

Conducted with calipers at multiple body sites.
Assesses body fat composition (fitness & athletic conditioning).

Comparison of fitness tests

Test	Origin	Focus	Pros	Limitations
Yo-Yo Test	Football/Hockey	Aerobic endurance, recovery	Standardized, simple	Less cricket-specific
2-km Trial	Athletics	General stamina	Easy, clear benchmarks	Doesn’t mimic cricket demands
Bronco Test	Rugby	Endurance + repeat sprints	Closer to cricket	More physically taxing
Skinfold Test	Sports science	Body fat %	Tracks body composition	Doesn’t test stamina

UPSC-relevant angle

Sports science in India: Adoption of international methods (Yo-Yo, Bronco) reflects India’s integration with global sports fitness standards.

Policy importance: BCCI’s emphasis on fitness aligns with “Fit India Movement” (Govt. of India initiative, 2019).

Comparative GK: UPSC may ask:

What is the Bronco Test?
Difference between Yo-Yo and Bronco Test?
Why is fitness testing important in team sports?

In short: The Bronco Test, introduced by BCCI, is a rugby-based endurance test of repeated sprints (20m, 40m, 60m), replacing the Yo-Yo test as a more cricket-relevant measure of aerobic capacity and stamina. Earlier, Yo-Yo and 2-km trial tests were standard, focusing on endurance but with less direct relation to cricket’s physical demands.