Ajinkya Rahane on Standby as Rohit Sharma Gears Up for Yo-Yo Test

Ajinkya Rahane has been reportedly put on standby for the ODI series against England, as Rohit Sharma prepares to take the all-important yo-yo test on Tuesday (June 19).

Since last year, BCCI has made it mandatory for all the players to pass the test to get a place in the Indian team. As of now, the players need to score at least 16.3 in the test to make it to the team. Ever since the conclusion of the Indian Premier League, the players are undergoing the test at the National Cricket Academy.

Rohit under the radar too

And Rohit is also now gearing up for the same. The limited-overs vice-captain was initially scheduled to appear for the test last week. However, he skipped the test due to personal engagements.

Rohit was recently in Russia, and as a result, he had to miss the first date. He had taken the permission from the BCCI for visiting Russia.

“Rohit had taken permission from the BCCI for his personal engagements (he is in Russia as a brand ambassador of a watch company). There’s no rule that all tests have to be conducted on the same day. He will be appearing for the YoYo Test tomorrow,” GM (cricket Operations) Saba Karim had confirmed.

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As per reports in India Today, Rohit failed the test twice during the Indian Premier League last month. And as a result, the board has put Rahane as a standby.

The BCCI is dealing harshly with the players who are failing the test. In fact, in the last one month, as many as three top players were dropped after they failed the yo-yo test.

The three players are – Mohammed Shami, Sanju Samson and Ambati Rayudu. Shami had to face the axe from the Test squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan.

On the other hand, Samson and Rayudu lost their places in the India A and senior ODI squads, respectively. Both Samson and Rayudu would have felt hard done by due to the test. Both had earned the call after their brilliant performances in the IPL.