With fitness a key criteria for making it to the Indian cricket team, head coach Ravi Shastri now wants to raise the Yo-Yo test bar from 16.1 to 16.3, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror.
Shastri has already begun preparations for the 2019 World Cup in England next year and has decided not to field unfit players in the squad, the report said. According to Shastri, players who cannot attain the minimum score on the Yo-Yo test should not feature in the Indian team. The India ‘A’ team management and the national selection committee are also on board in this matter, the report added.
“Ravi has instructed that every player must pass the Yo-Yo test,” the report quoted an official as saying. “He has taken the decision keeping in view the tough overseas assignments for the team, including next year’s World Cup.”
India pacer Mohammed Shami recently failed the Yo-Yo fitness test ahead of the Afghanistan Test starting on Thursday. He was replaced in the India squad by Delhi speedster Navdeep Saini for the one-off Test.
Wicketkeeper Sanju Samson too was recently dropped from the India A squad after he failed the Yo-Yo test. His score was below the prescribed 16.1 mark.
Clearly, fitness first is team India’s motto.