Will Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma have to retire if they fail Yo-Yo Test? Selection criteria updated before Australia tour

The newly introduced Bronco Test will reportedly not decide the future of the veteran icons like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as they gear up for their India comeback with the Australia tour later this year. Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are now only active in ODI cricket.

There was a time in Indian cricket when the yo-yo test decided a player’s future. Under Virat Kohli’s captaincy, it was clear that if a player failed the yo-yo test, he was out of the team, no matter how big a name he was. The BCCI had set a minimum qualifying score of 16.5.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma safe

The yo-yo test itself was a test of both speed and endurance, where players had to run shuttles back and forth with a timer, covering distances like 1,200 meters in 6 minutes and close to 2 kilometers in 12 minutes.

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This test calculated everything, including players’ endurance, stamina, and recovery ability. For years, the yo-yo test became the ultimate criterion test for the players’ fitness.

But with time, questions have been raised about the test, as every player has a different body type, different strengths, and different weaknesses. Some argued that the yo-yo was too tough and did not reflect the complete picture of fitness, and the numbers were reportedly ditched.

The Bronco Test takes over in Indian Cricket

And now the BCCI introduced the Bronco Test, a fitness test that came straight from the world of rugby. This test is far tougher and far more relentless than the yo-yo test. Unlike the yo-yo test, where players get some rest during the shuttles, the Bronco gives no chance to breathe.

The players will have to just keep running, nonstop, at a fixed pace and distance. It is designed to see how long the players can push their bodies under pressure without breaking down. Many fitness trainers have called it a “top-notch” test because it shows real endurance.

Now, the big question is what will happen if players fail the yo-yo or Bronco test? Well, a Revsportz journalist revealed that the players won’t be rejected even if they fail the yo-yo or Bronco tests, which means there will be no impact on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s selection.

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Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be considered for the selection even if they register low scores. Instead, these numbers are taken as an indicator of where you stand physically. The numbers will only show the level of a player’s fitness, progress, and what areas he needs to improve.

Bronco Test brings no threat to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s India comeback

In fact, in the last few months, even some of the fittest Indian cricketers have fallen short in the yo-yo test. These are players who are among the fittest players, as claimed by the journalist. He said that the fitness tests are not about “pass or fail” anymore in the Indian cricket team.

There might still be a “benchmark number,” but it is not used as a “selection criterion.” The Bronco Test is now seen as all about consistency, effort, and the ability to maintain the players’ bodies for long seasons of international cricket, not just a score.

So, if a player fails the yo-yo or the Bronco, it does not mean he will not be selected for the team. It means he has to work harder, improve his conditioning, and show that he is capable of handling the grind. These tests are now used as a measure of discipline, not as the final selection criterion.