'If something is working, don’t change it': R Ashwin warns Gautam Gambhir and Co. over fitness overhaul

NEW DELHI: Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has issued a strong warning to Gautam Gambhir’s new support staff, urging continuity in training methods and cautioning against frequent changes in fitness regimes. His remarks come in the wake of reports that the management has introduced the Bronco test alongside the Yo-Yo test and the 2km time trial as new parameters to measure fitness.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux, who replaced Soham Desai, reportedly brought in the Bronco test after India’s fast bowlers struggled to sustain their workloads during the recent Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy against England.Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin explained why such abrupt shifts in testing can harm players. “When the trainers change, the testing mechanism changes. The trainer changes, the training schemes change. When this happens, players go through a lot of difficulty. As a player, if you keep changing training schemes, it is virtually very difficult for the players. In many cases, it could also lead to injuries,” he warned.Drawing from his own struggles, Ashwin added: “From 2017 to 2019, I was searching for my training scheme. I have endured this. Soham Desai knows all about this.”The Bronco test, widely used in rugby and football, requires players to run five sets of 20m, 40m and 60m shuttles, amounting to 1,200m. The time taken reflects aerobic endurance and recovery ability.But Ashwin stressed that introducing new systems should not come at the cost of player continuity. “I just want to raise some questions. As a player, the problem is one of continuity. I would really like some continuity. It is important to give that. Whenever a new trainer comes in, he should work with the outgoing trainer for six months to one year to give the handover.”He concluded with a blunt warning: “There is no need to change something that is working. If something is working, then it needs to be discussed and then changed.”