Indian players undergoing DNA fitness test
Keeping in sync with skipper Virat Kohli’s uncompromising training regimen, the Indian cricketers are now undergoing DNA test that reveals the genetic fitness blueprint of an individual, raising the bar to a level hitherto unseen.
The test helps a sportsman improve his speed, in fat burning, endurance, recovery time, and muscle building. It has been learnt that the BCCI has introduced this test on the recommendation of team trainer Shankar Basu, so that a more comprehensive fitness programme for the national team can be chalked out.
The DNA test, or, genetic fitness test, gives an idea about how 40-plus genes are related to a person’s fitness, health, and nutrition. Each cricketer’s DNA data is then combined with the environmental data which is the individual’s body weight and diet, for an all-round analysis.
“Yes, we have started the DNA test for the Indian cricket team for some time now. It is basically in line with the new fitness parameters, which has been set by the team management. The DNA test was first introduced in the NBA (basketball) and the NFL in the United States.
“The idea was mooted by Shankar Basu and it has proved to be extremely beneficial. For conducting each and every player’s test, the BCCI spends between ~25,000 to ~30,000 which is a nominal amount,” a senior BCCI official said on the condition of anonymity.
Earlier, the Indian cricket team used to undergo Skinfold Test for body fat measure percentage and then switched to DEXA test. “Skinfold test was used for a long time but it was found out that results related to body fat percentage were not accurate enough. Then there was a switch to DEXA test.
“The DNA test is being done so that the body’s needs are known to maintain a particular fat percentage,” the official, who is aware about the module, further added.
It is learnt that some of the cricketers did not know why, after rigorous amount of training, they were not able to bring down their fat percentage to a certain level. “Some of them have been having copious amount of milk since childhood as it is a common belief that milk gives you strength.”
“When this test started, some players understood that they are lactose intolerant, he added.
One of the players whose strength and stamina has tremendously improved has been pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been consistently playing ODIs and T20 Internationals. Since the start of Champions Trophy, Bhuvneshwar has played 19 ODIs and seven T20 Internationals, purely because of a new fitness routine that was prepared after getting his genetic fitness report.
NEW DELHI:
MS Dhoni in T20Is
Period
2006-2012 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2013-2017 Overall M
42 1
7
2 21 9
40 82 Runs
748 24 77 25 238 169
533 1281 Balls
651 21 58 20 159 129
387 1038 S/R
114.90 114.28 132.75 125.00 149.68 131.00
137.72 123.41