Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) head VVS Laxman on Sunday heaped praise on legendary Indian batter Virat Kohli, describing him as an “exemplary professional” and a role model whose commitment and standards continue to inspire the next generation of cricketers.

Laxman said Kohli has consistently maintained exceptionally high standards for himself and makes a conscious effort to meet those expectations every time he takes the field, regardless of the team or competition he represents.

“I think there is no doubt that Virat is an exemplary professional. And the standards he sets for himself are something which he tries and goes out every time he plays for whichever team to meet those standards,” Laxman told reporters during a press conference in Bengaluru.

The former India batter added that Kohli’s professionalism and approach to the game have made him an influential figure within Indian cricket, with several youngsters looking up to him and seeking to emulate his methods.

“And that’s why he is a great role model. And I think a lot of youngsters or players want to emulate him,” Laxman said.

Kohli has built a reputation during his international career for his discipline, fitness, intensity and consistency, qualities that have helped establish him among the most influential figures in modern Indian cricket. Laxman’s comments underline the importance of such professional standards as younger players make their way into the national setup.

Laxman also came to the defence of the BCCI Centre of Excellence amid growing scrutiny over India’s injury concerns. Several prominent players are currently dealing with fitness issues, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, batter Sai Sudharsan, all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar, and pacer Harshit Rana.

With a growing number of players spending time on the sidelines, questions have been raised over workload management and the role of the CoE in handling the fitness requirements of India’s cricketers. Laxman, however, stressed that injuries are an unavoidable part of professional sport and said the focus should be on monitoring and managing players appropriately rather than assigning blame. He also emphasised that the Centre of Excellence has responsibilities that go far beyond rehabilitation and injury recovery.

“CoE is not merely a rehab centre. There are bigger roles to play for it in helping cricketers achieve excellence,” Laxman said. According to Laxman, the facility plays a broader role in supporting players’ development and helping them achieve peak performance, making sports science, medicine, conditioning and player management important components of its work.

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The CoE is also currently without a Head of Sports Science and Medicine (SSM), a position that the BCCI has struggled to fill following the departure of Nitin Patel. Laxman acknowledged the difficulties involved in finding an appropriate replacement, saying the role requires a candidate with considerable experience, stature and a strong understanding of the specific needs of Indian cricketers.

“After Nitin (Patel) left, we couldn’t fill his shoes. Everything was agreed upon; Andrew (Leipus) backed off citing family reasons,” Laxman said.
Laxman’s comments come at a time when player fitness and workload management remain significant areas of focus for Indian cricket. While injuries have affected several key members of the squad, the CoE continues to play a central role in rehabilitation, fitness monitoring and supporting players as they return to competitive cricket.

For Laxman, however, the larger objective remains helping Indian cricketers achieve sustained excellence, with professionals such as Kohli providing an example for younger players to follow.