How to become fitness coach of the Indian cricket team: degrees, certificates and career path

Players of the Indian cricket team are known around the world for their fitness. From Virat Kohli to Jasprit Bumrah, the team's fitness coach plays a big part in keeping every player fit. Building a career as a fitness coach with the Indian team and the BCCI is a dream for many young people.

Those who want to move ahead in this field need specific education, a degree and international-level certificates. Here is the full process of becoming the fitness coach of the Indian team.

First, education. Experience in a gym alone is not enough; a strong educational background is essential. Under BCCI rules, a candidate applying for the post must hold a bachelor's degree in sports science, exercise physiology or physical education from a recognised university. A master's degree in the same subjects gives a candidate preference in the selection process.

After the degree, a few well-known, globally recognised fitness certifications have to be earned. According to the BCCI, the candidate must hold the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certificate from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

The Level 1 or Level 2 certificate of the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association (ASCA) is also considered very important in the field. The coach must also hold a valid certificate in Basic Life Support (BLS) and first aid, so that any emergency on the field can be handled.

Beyond eligibility, practical experience matters most in this high-profile job. Under BCCI rules, joining the national team requires at least 7 to 10 years of experience, most of it spent training international-level players or elite cricketers. The candidate must also have a deep understanding of cricket, including how the physical needs of fast bowlers, spinners and batters differ, and what kind of workload management schedule should be drawn up for each.

No one can become coach of the senior Indian team directly. One has to go through a set system. First, a candidate must start as strength and conditioning staff with a Ranji Trophy team, an IPL franchise, the National Cricket Academy or the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.

Only after showing excellent results there, working with junior players, the India A team or the women's cricket team, does the way open to joining the support staff of the senior men's Indian team. The BCCI invites applications for these posts from time to time on its official website, where eligible candidates can submit their full profile.