For selection in India’s national cricket team, on parameter has become constant i.e. fitness. To determine the overall fitness levels of an athlete, the Yo-Yo test has been introduced in Team India, which is strictly followed. But at the time of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly‘s era, fitness was not the major factor for the entrance in the team. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan firmly believes that there are three former Indian players who might have qualified the Yo-Yo test if it was in his time.
Earlier, the players who were also not fit were given a chance in the national team, but today there is no such scenario in the current team. However, in contemporary cricket, measures such as the Yo-Yo test are taken to ensure every player is at his peak condition.
Irfan Pathan picks three players who would have passed Yo-Yo Test:
Former cricketer, while giving the interview to Firstpost named Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif and himself in the category of fitness freaks of the past decade. He also ranked himself in the third position while kept Sachin Tendulkar at the top position. He has placed the Mohammed Kaif at the second number. Kaif was known as one of the most acrobatic and reliable fielders of the past decade.
Here is the interview:
'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
Notably, Former Indian skipper Anil Kumble had introduced Yo-Yo Test during his tenure as coach of the national team. Since then, the test is followed in the team.
Currently, Irfan Pathan is busy playing the Road Safety World Series 2020 for India legends. Earlier, in the match against Sri Lanka Legends, he struck a match-winning unbeaten half-century. Meanwhile, Coronavirus scares has led the tournament to be postponed.