Rahul Dravid opposes BCCI's decision to apply Yo-Yo test for India U19 team

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is in favour of Yo-Yo test for the India U19 team, who are all set to tour Malaysia for the Asia Youth Cup next week, but the head coach of the youth team Rahul Dravid opposed the move, as a result, Yo-Yo test is not being made mandatory for junior cricket.

It was proposed by the trainer of the Indian team but the coach has come forward to protect his wards and said it is not needed at the junior level yet. The focus should be on enhancing their skills and not just on fitness and thus cannot be a parameter for selection.

“The Indian team trainer had thrown the idea of having Yo-Yo test for India under-19 team but Dravid made it clear that it should not be needed for junior cricket. At this age, players should improve their skills. Fitness is important but if he can score runs and take wickets, that should be the parameter of selecting a player,” source at the National Cricket Academy, Bangalore, told The Indian Express.

Yo-Yo test is mandatory for senior team

Yo-Yo test is mandatory for senior cricketers. The test sets a strict fitness level which is required to play for the Indian team. It starts with a modest jog to the eventual sprinting which helped batsmen to rotate the strike in the slog overs of a limited overs match.

With the timing of the beeps constantly decreasing, each subsequent 40m circuit requires more speed. Failing to reach the other end twice between the beeps means the end of the test. The final score is determined by the laps completed and the speed gathered.

Last month, before the start of the New Zealand series, it was decided that Yo-Yo test would form the basis for selection for the senior team. Among the players who reportedly failed the test are Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh.

But interestingly recently retired fast bowler Ashish Nehra, 38, was included in the Indian team as he passed the rigorous test.

“The captain, the coach and chief selector, along with the other members of the selection committee in consultation with the support staff (trainer and physio), have set the parameters. The fitness parameters set by the team management for athletes to be eligible for selection are non-negotiable,” Rahul Johri, the BCCI CEO, had said.