The controversy surrounding the Yo-Yo test just keeps on getting dragged, as of now. According to the latest news report, Mohammed Shami, Ambati Rayudu, and Sanju Samson were told about the test only after being named in the respective squads.
Usually, the players undergo this test before being selected in the national teams.
However, this time around the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had to take the test after selection because of the Indian Premier League (IPL). As a result, the trio had to pay a hefty price as they failed to clear the much-talked-about test.
Fast bowler Shami had to face an axe from the Test squad for the One-off Test against Afghanistan.
On the other hand, Samson and Rayudu lost their spot in the India A and senior ODI squad, respectively.
Both Samson and Rayudu would have felt hard done due to the test. The duo had earned the call after their brilliant performances in the IPL.
Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) this season, Samson amassed 491 runs at an average of over 31 and a strike-rate of almost 138. Before that, he had a brilliant outing in the premium domestic competition Ranji Trophy.
Samson scored 627 runs in seven games with the help of two tons and three half-centuries.
On the other hand, Rayudu enjoyed his most successful IPL season with the bat so far. He played an integral role in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) title-winning run in the IPL this year.
Among the top five run-scorers, this season was the best IPL Ambati Rayudu had, scoring 602 runs at a strike rate of 149.75 including one century.
However, both the players had to endure heartbreak after failing the Yo-Yo test.
Meanwhile, BCCI general manager Saba Karim insisted that conducting the test after the squad selection was one-off.
“It’s (Yo-Yo test) always conducted before team selection. This time the change happened because of the IPL. We have to pick the teams early because of the logistical reasons, so we couldn’t drag out players during the IPL and made them go through fitness tests. That’s why we conducted it after the IPL was over. And all the players were given enough time to prepare for that,” Karim told The Indian Express.
“Earlier, if you see, in the case of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, the fitness tests were conducted before the team selection. It always happened like that in the past. This time, the moment the teams were announced, whether that was the India A side or Team India, the players knew that they had to undergo fitness tests. So they had enough time to prepare. That is why so many of them prepared well and got through,” he added.