Ramji Srinivasan, former Team India trainer, really doesn’t understand the agenda of Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) regarding the mandatory Yo-Yo Test, saying it is “like passing an entire semester by clearing only one subject”.
He also called for transparency in the system, especially after the in-form players Ambati Rayudu, Sanju Samson and Mohammed Shami dropped out from the Indian squad and India A respectively after failing to clear the new cut-off score of 16.1.
Srinivasan further said that the famous Yo-Yo Test is just a part of fitness drills and on the basis of the cut-off scores, how can they decide whether a player could perform at the highest level or not. He also believes that external factors cannot determine the Yo-Yo Test results.
He told Sportstar, “Yo-Yo is just a part of fitness drills, and it is basically for soccer. I don’t know how you can judge an athlete by just one aspect of fitness. It is like passing an entire semester by clearing only one subject. If you pass in English, you also have to clear Science and Mathematics.”
Besides Indian Team, Srinivasan also trained players in Australia and currently is part of the fitness culture in the Tamil Nadu cricket team and the Chennai Super Kings is really surprised to learn Rayudu was dropped from England tour after he failed to pass the Fitness Test at NCA.
He further stated, “Rayudu covers the ground very quickly. Cricket is not rocket science. It is one of the easiest sports to train physiologically. The psychological aspect is more demanding. He is a fighter and he will be back. I don’t know what to say about Sanju as well. Shami’s case is still understandable as he had a niggle and he went through a lot on the personal front, which hampers training.”
The experienced trainer signed off by saying, “Sprint is easy, so is agility and speed, but it has to be standardized. The indoor-outdoor temperature and the time of the drill (morning or noon) are crucial. I am not sure how well it is being documented. If the BCCI wants to be open about it, they should telecast on television, with all the players lined up. That will shut everyone up. I don’t know whether the readings are being monitored. It will help a player take video reference on the test.”
