'Yo-Yo is not the only benchmark' - Salman Butt opens up on fitness priorities and selection standards

The 2023 Asia Cup has already started, and fans have witnessed two one-sided games in the first two fixtures, but the ultimate India-Pakistan rivalry is the one that fans have been waiting to watch.

Pakistan started their Asia Cup campaign with a comfortable 238-run victory over Nepal on the tournament's opening day. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka maintained their winning momentum by defeating Bangladesh by five wickets on the second day.

Also Check: Asia Cup 2023 Live Updates

India are all set to begin their campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan in Pallekele. The Indian side arrived at the Asia Cup fresh from an intensive five-day training camp in Alur. During this preparation phase, they fine-tuned their skills and underwent rigorous fitness tests, most notably the much talked-about Yo-Yo test.

Young opener Shubman Gill beat former India captain Virat Kohli by achieving a remarkable Yo-Yo test score of 18.7, surpassing Kohli's 17.2. 

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt said that Kohli, at 34, might have focused solely on meeting the required fitness benchmark, preserving his energy for the rest of the training camp, rather than striving to be the top scorer in the test. Butt highlighted the tendency of younger players to push their limits, whereas experienced players like Kohli might prioritise conserving their energy.

Also see: Most Runs in Asia Cup 2023

“I'll tell you one thing. When a player reaches a certain age and he knows what the required limit is, he would simply cross it and be done with it,” Butt was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

The former Pakistan captain also made a noteworthy observation about Indian skipper Rohit Sharma's fitness, suggesting that he didn't dedicate as much effort to his fitness as Kohli did. Butt emphasised that fitness isn't solely measured by Yo-Yo scores but also by a player's work ethic, gym routine, and on-field performance.

“Yo-Yo is not the only benchmark, though. You see his gym work, his ethics. You see his shots, the two shots he hit against Haris Rauf in the World Cup last year… Rohit Sharma didn't work as hard as he should have. He was a great talent but he didn't take care of his fitness. You just have to see both of their appearances,” Butt added.