India ‘A’ team does away with Yo-Yo test; not a good sign, says BCCI official

It is often said that in the ages of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli, the fitness standards in Indian cricket have reached enviable heights. Quite a few experienced cricketers failed to survive in the national team over the last few years because of their fitness concerns, thanks to the Yo-Yo test, even though they were known to be good fielders in their heydays. However, India’s high benchmark in fitness has come under threat at the moment as it has been reported that India ‘A’ has decided to do away with the Yo-Yo test.

India Today reported that the much-discussed test is no more a part of the upcoming cricketers’ fitness regime and that, one apprehends, could hit the senior team’s supply chain. Current skipper Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri always stress on the fitness part but doing away with the Yo-Yo test for the colts means their plan could be in serious jeopardy now.

“No, the Yo-Yo isn’t a part of the ‘A’ team set-up. At least it hasn’t been in the last few months,” the source was quoted as saying.

Abhay Sharma dodges the question, puts it on trainers

Diplomatic handling of the crucial issue could be seen as India ‘A’ and India U19 fielding coach Abhay Sharma said the coaching crew doesn’t interfere in the trainers’ job. “See, you have to ask the trainers what and why. It isn’t our domain and we don’t interfere in their style of functioning. They prepare specific programs which they can give you an idea about,” India Today quoted him as saying from South Africa.

He reiterated the words of speaking with the trainers when asked whether the changes were set to violate the system that Kohli and Shastri are trying to put in place.

One BCCI official raised concerns over the matter and said it needed to be looked into immediately. “This is not a good sign. Fitness is an integral part of the Indian team’s functioning and if you stop that in the ‘A’ team, what that does is a scenario comes in where a player walks into the senior team and is caught off guard,” the functionary was quoted as saying.

“Clearly, Kohli and Shastri’s policy of emphasizing on the Yo-Yo has done wonders and that is there to see with the way this team has dominated all formats in recent times,” he said, adding that one needed to see who stopped the process.