BCCI Treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry Questions the Use Of Yo-Yo Test For Selection

The debate surrounding the much-talked-about Yo-Yo test just keeps on getting extended. The latest to speak over it is Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCC) treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry.

Interestingly, the test has been questioned by many and Chaudhary has also raised questions over the test being used as a crucial selection tool for the national sides owing to the selection procedure.

It has been quite a while since clearing the test was made mandatory by the BCCI and the Indian team-management in order to get into the national fold at a different level.

However, the test has drawn controversies in recent times after as many as their players lost their spots in the national teams.

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

On the other hand, Samson and Rayudu lost their respective place in the India A and senior One-day International squad. Both Samson and Rayudu would have felt hard done by due to the test. The duo had earned the call after their brilliant performances in the recently held Indian Premier League (IPL).

Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) this season, Samson amassed 491 runs at an average of over 31 and a strike-rate of almost 138. Before that, he had a brilliant outing in the premium domestic competition Ranji Trophy.

Samson scored 627 runs in seven games with the help of two tons and three fifties. He had also scored a century against the visiting Sri Lanka side, last year, in a warm-up match.

In addition, Rayudu enjoyed his most successful IPL season with the bat so far. He played an integral role in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) title-winning run in the IPL, this year.

Among the top-five run-scorers, this IPL season Rayudu scored 602 runs at a strike rate of 149.75 including a ton.

However, both the players had to endure heartbreak after failing the Yo-Yo test.

Ever since the players’ axing, many have raised doubts over the credibility of the test and the latest to join the bandwagon is Chaudhary himself.

As per The Print, Chaudhry sent an eight-page letter to the CoA. The BCCI official asked the committee who decided that the test would be a prerequisite of national team selection.

Chaudhry also came to the defence of Rayudu, who reportedly took the test for the very first time when he flunked.

“It is pretty much unfair to note when one hears that Mr. Rayudu took the yo-yo test for the first time only when the test was conducted for his selection. If the players have not even been informed about it officially then the imposition of this criteria is wrong, unjust and reeks of arbitrariness,” Chaudhry wrote.

Anirudh Chaudhry also questioned the decision to not give parameters of fitness other than endurance.

“There are many components that make up the fitness levels of an athlete. But interestingly, it is only the score in a yo-yo test that has been made the prerequisite for selection. How did the forum that decided on this matter deal with the other components?,” Chaudhry questioned.

Recently, head coach Ravi Shastri made it clear that clearing the test is mandatory for selection into the national team.