Gautam Gambhir lashes out at the team management for dropping Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu being dropped from the Indian side for not clearing the yo-yo test was the talk of the town ahead of England tour. He was picked by the selectors on the back some sensational performances in the IPL but then was sidelined as he failed to achieve the score of 16.1 in the yo-yo test. Gautam Gambhir is the newest member to criticise the team management for dropping him and feels that it was unfair.

Rayudu was raking runs at will and ended up as the fourth highest run-getter of the IPL season this year. He amassed 602 runs in 16 outings at an average of 43 and a scintillating strike-rate of 149.75 which led to him making a comeback to the limited-overs format for England tour which was due after the IPL. But just before embarking on the tour, he was dropped controversially for not clearing the fitness test which has been made mandatory to make it to the national side.

It is the responsibility of the trainer

Gautam Gambhir, while speaking to Aaj Tak, emphasised on performance being the major parameter for a cricketer to get picked in the team. He felt that it is the job of the trainer to look after his fitness if a player like Ambati Rayudu is not meeting the required expectations.

“What is more important is performance. Suppose if a certain player is scoring close to 15 in yo-yo test, then it is the responsibility of the trainer to improve his fitness and take him to 16.1 or whatever the benchmark is. If they are bringing in fit players itself then what is the job of the trainer?’ he said.

Rayudu shouldn’t have been dropped

The 36-year-old also went on to say that Rayudu shouldn’t have been dropped only for failing the yo-yo test. He had scored a huge amount of runs to come back into the contention for the national side and the management should’ve given him some time to attain the required fitness to pass the yo-yo test.

“Rayudu performed exceptionally well in the IPL but he was dropped only because of yo-yo test. If his score was around 14.5, the team management should’ve given him one month to work with the trainer and improve his fitness in order to clear the yo-yo test. Even if he wouldn’t have achieved the score then it was fair to drop him.”

“You never know India would’ve won the ODI series against England by 2-1 if Rayudu would’ve played in the middle-order where the visitors struggled,” Gambhir added.

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