Sunil Gavaskar Warns: 'Bronco Test Shouldn't Decide National Team Selection'

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-09-09 12:14:02 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-09 17:27:43

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Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has issued a warning about the overuse of the Bronco test in determining national team selection. The former cricketer emphasized the importance of factoring in player roles and their passion for Indian cricket.

Gavaskar expressed his views in response to concerns raised by fellow legend Sachin Tendulkar about the ongoing overhaul of the men's senior team. Tendulkar cited the abandonment of the struggling senior players, questioning the timing of the transition and the selection process.

The Bronco test, developed by sports psychologist Dr. Phil Jauncey, is a psychometric assessment tool used to evaluate the mental fitness of players. It measures aspects such as self-awareness, confidence, resilience, and empathy. Coaches and selectors use these criteria to build stronger, more cohesive teams.

Gavaskar shares Tendulkar's concerns and feels that players who have given ample years of their lives and careers to Indian cricket should be treated with more sensitivity. He advocates for a balanced approach in player selection, where the Bronco test is just one of the criteria among others, such as performance and fitness.

"Everyone talks about the mental health of players and wanting to reduce the pressure on them, but then you have a situation where a player is constantly in and out of the team, and that impacts his mental health more than anything else," said Gavaskar.

He emphasized that while the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) means well in their attempt to use the Bronco test, it is crucial to avoid making it a matter of "life and death." Gavaskar fears that if these tests determine selection, players might start manipulating their results to secure a place in the team, thus undermining the true purpose of the assessments.

Gavaskar asks the BCCI to take a holistic approach, considering that cricket is more than just the runs scored or wickets taken. He reiterates that the love for Indian cricket must remain at the core of every player's motivation.

"If you take that away, you will have a very hollow, very shallow team, one that will not be able to deliver when the going is tough," warned Gavaskar.

Despite his warnings, Gavaskar remains hopeful that the current selectors will find the right balance in their approach to selecting the best players for India.

"I'm sure they will keep in mind everything, not just the numbers, when they pick the best possible team for the country," he added.

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