Irfan Pathan names three players who would have finished top three in Yo-Yo fitness test in the previous decade

For young cricket fans in the modern era, it is indeed hard to imagine that there were immensely talented players in the previous decade who were fit in their own right. Even the ones who were not fit as a fiddle were given chances to represent the national team as there were no stringent rules back then.

For the unversed, the Indian national cricket team had a fitness test during the early 2000s where players had to cover a distance of 20m in a stipulated time and then return to the starting point before the beep. Nonetheless, it was not compulsory back then. But in contemporary cricket, fitness has become synonymous with the Yo-Yo test.

Irfan Pathan picks top 3 in yo-yo test

Former India fast bowler, Irfan Pathan, in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, was asked to name three Indian players of the previous decade who would have finished as top-three in the Yo-Yo Test. In reply, Irfan Pathan picked the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammed Kaif, before naming himself in the category of fitness freaks.

According to Pathan, Sachin was a great fitness freak. As far as Kaif is concerned, he was a quick runner between the wickets while also being sharp and decisive on the field, earning the tag of being one of the best acrobatic fielders in the world during his playing days. At last, Irfan Pathan picked himself as the third contender in the Yo-Yo test.

'Kohli doesn't have the calmness of Tendulkar, and Sachin has ___________': @IrfanPathan | #Yorked

Full interview by @vaib_1205: pic.twitter.com/hc6zZCQ6Ju

— Firstpost (@firstpost) March 12, 2020

Yo-yo test is a parameter wherein each and every cricketer is supposed to take a fitness test where athlete’s fitness standards are determined. The players who pass the test are declared ‘fit’ and only then they are allowed to be a part of the national team set-up or else, they will go through the test until meeting the required standards.

It should be noted that former India cricketer Anil Kumble was the one who introduced this fitness test during his tenure as Team India coach. While the BCCI has kept 16.1 as the minimum qualification for the players to pass the test. Indian captain Virat Kohli, who is regarded as the fitness freak has managed to score 19 points in Yo-Yo Test.