YoYo endurance test is the new secret of success for Team India

Team India has had a dominating run in world cricket in the recent times. Albeit they do not boast of an ICC major in their cabinet in the last couple of years, one cannot ignore the fact that they have arguably been the most consistent sides. Their dominating performances have been consistent across the three formats of the game. So what could the potential reason for this success be?

As per the recent quotes in News18, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan revealed that it is the fitness standards that has made all the difference. The players are put under rigorous fitness drills that have transformed them into top performers. The conditioning coach of team India, Shankar Basu, has started a fitness drill named YoYo endurance test.

Under this drill, any player or a group of players are picked at random after the net sessions and are asked to undergo a set of rigorous fitness drills. Dhawan pointed out that it is important to have such drills. He has been a part of two such tests during the ongoing Sri Lankan tour this far.

“The fitness aspect has always been there. It is just that it is now more in prominence because it is very important that everyone in the team should be at the same level of fitness. This is because fitness is a major part in all three departments. One moment of poor fielding can change the momentum of the game,” quoted Shikhar Dhawan.

“In today’s cricket, it is not like 10 years back. Things were different earlier but now the game is very high paced and you have to be fit. And it is fair to expect so. If you are not fit, then the team has to bear that load and it is not fair on the team,” he added.

On big names missing out

He further noted that it is not only team India who is taking the fitness very seriously. The other top nations are also working on the same. He conceded that if a big name fails to match up the standards, the replacements are always available. Reportedly, Yuvraj Singh had failed to complete such drills in the recent times.

“It is something seen not just in Indian cricket but also every other cricket team like Australia, England, etc. They all have fitness parameters, and now, so do we. We have got good players. If one goes, there is always another player (to take up that spot), so we can afford to look at this aspect. There has to be a balance. If we don’t have a back-up player of same ability, then we know that we cover it (fitness levels) up a little bit,” conceded the Indian opener.

“Now, we know that we have that (great bench strength) so why not put more responsibility on the players who can come up and do a job for the team,” he conceded further.