Rohit all set to take fitness test

India’s limitedovers mainstay will be anxious to pass the fitness test after the axing of Rayudu and Shami

NEW DELHI : The uncertainty over Rohit Sharma’s Yo-Yo test is likely to end on Wednesday with the Indian limited-overs vicecaptain expected to undergo the mandatory fitness trial at Bangalore’s National Cricket Academy.

It is learnt Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is on standby if Rohit Sharma fails to achieve the 16.1 qualifying mark in the Yo-Yo test.

“There is nothing new in having a standby. In case the necessity arises, Rahane is being seen as a reserve opener and will fill in that role. As of now, we have not heard that Rohit has any fitness issues,” a senior BCCI official, who has worked closely with the cricket operations team, said.

The entire limited-overs squad except those who played in the Afghanistan Test took the test at the NCA on June 15, barring Rohit.

(India are due to play two T20s in Ireland starting June 27 followed by three T20s and ODIs each versus England, followed by the five-Test series.)

Rohit was allowed to take the test at a later date as he had been given permission to travel to Russia as brand ambassador of a watch company. However, since then there has not been any clarity about the date of his fitness test.

The opener is the most important player in the limited-overs set-up after skipper Virat Kohli.

BCCI sources said Rohit wanted to take the fitness test after the team lands in the UK but was told by the Board that it is mandatory to pass the test in India.

The Yo-Yo test has been a raging topic in Indian cricket since Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina became the first players to fail. Raina has since cleared the test and has earned a recall to the limited-overs team.

However with three players -Sanju Samson (India A), Mohammed Shami and Ambati

Rayudu (India seniors) failing the test, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) have asked BCCI officials why it was not taken before team selection. It is learnt BCCI GM (Cricket Operations) Saba Karim explained that an exception was made this time because IPL was on.

Henceforth, BCCI will hold the fitness test before team selection to avoid the embarrassment of late withdrawals. The teams for the Afghanistan Test, India and A tour of the UK were announced during IPL last month.

The issue was discussed at the CoA meeting held on Monday.

Rayudu made a comeback to the ODI side after a prolific IPL but was unable to pass the Yo-Yo test. Raina replaced him in the squad. Shami will get another opportunity to prove his fitness when the Test squad is picked.