New Delhi: 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 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 Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 which is a nominal amount," a senior BCCI official said.

Earlier, the Indian team used to undergo skinfold test for body fat-measure percentage and then switched to DEXA test. As of now, the permissible body fat percentage limit for a senior national team player is 23 percent, which is standard for most of the international cricket teams, including Pakistan and New Zealand.

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.

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. PTI