Yuvraj dropped over fitness concerns
All-rounder, Yuvraj Singh, has been dropped yet again from the Indian squad for the upcoming T20Is against Sri Lanka starting from 20th of December. Despite clearing Yo-Yo fitness test, the left-handed batsman was overlooked by selectors who opted to include 3 uncapped players for the series which will be led by stand-in captain Rohit Sharma. Why did selectors drop Yuvraj Singh? Here's more.
Why was Yuvraj dropped by MSK Prasad?
The Indian selection panel, headed by MSK Prasad, cited Yuvraj's recurring fitness issues as the reason behind the exclusion of the 35-year-old. Yuvraj has also not played competitive cricket in a while; the all-rounder even skipped four of Punjab's matches to prepare himself for the India vs Sri Lanka T20Is series. Yuvraj trained at the National cricket academy for the series.
What is the criteria to play for India?
The Indian selection panel has time and again emphasized the need of a fit squad. The idea, behind this, is to have the fittest players who could go on to play the 2019 50-over World Cup. The Yo-Yo test is the measurement system used by the selection committee to check the eligibility criteria of players. The minimum acceptable score by the BCCI is 19.5.
What is the Yo-Yo fitness test?
Player needs to run between lines, each 20 meters apart, when the beep goes off. Pace of of the beep increases every minute and if the player does not make it in time, he has to catch up within the next two beeps. The process is recorded by a software and the minimum score for Indian cricketers has been set at 19.5.
Yuvraj to play until 2019
Yuvi's last outing with India was against the West Indies earlier this year. Since then, Yuvi has failed the Yo-Yo test twice, but finally cleared it on Monday. But, he doesn't plan to give up and keeps his hopes high to play in the next World Cup. Who knows he might make it, after all he has proved his doubters wrong several times.
