BCCI Fitness Test – Ishan Kishan, Jaydev Unadkat passes fitness test: On Thursday it was reported that few of the top IPL players in reckoning for the T20 series against England have failed fitness test. But there is good news for Mumbai Indians Ishan Kishan and Jaydev Unadkat of Rajasthan Royals. Kishan and Unadkat along with SRH’s Siddharth Kaul cleared the fitness tests at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore on Friday.
“The players were given a choice to clear either the 2km-run test, or the yo-yo test. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan passed the ‘2km-run test,’ while seamers Jaydev Unadkat and Siddharth Kaul cleared the yo-yo test by achieving a score of 17.1, the new, raised benchmark for the yo-yo test,” a source in the BCCI informed TOI. Players themselves also tweeted that they have finally cleared the fitness test.
“Happy faces after clearing the fitness test! #YoYoDone,” tweeted Unadkat.
Happy faces after clearing the fitness test! #YoYoDone 💯 pic.twitter.com/TFFhhg6dAN
— Jaydev Unadkat (@JUnadkat) February 12, 2021
These fitness tests were conducted for around 20-odd cricketers who are in national reckoning for the limited over series against England at home, and for the T20 World Cup in India later this year. Rajasthan Royals‘ captain Sanju Samson, Rahul Tewatia and Kolkata Knight Riders‘ (KKR) Nitish Rana are yet to clear their fitness tests.
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India will play the five T20I series and three ODI series starting March 12.
Notably, it is not the first time Samson failed the fitness test. In 2018, the Kerala wicketkeeper-batsman along with Mohammed Shami and Ambati Rayudu had failed to clear the yo-yo test.
“A few fitness tests were conducted for around 20-odd cricketers who are in the reckoning for the limited-overs series against England at home, and for the T20 World Cup in India later this year. Among these tests was the now-famous yo-yo test and the new ‘2km run’ fitness test. In this test, a batsman, wicketkeeper or a spinner has to complete the two-kilometre distance in eight minutes and 30 seconds, while for a fast bowler, the benchmark is eight minutes and 15 seconds. Six of the players failed to clear these tests. Some players barely managed to complete the run,” the source said.
Asked about the logic of conducting this new test, the source said: “Like in the case of the yo-yo test, it will be mandatory. Kohli and Shastri are convinced about this criterion being set in stone.”
