‘Yo-Yo’ test cannot be the sole criteria for selection: Mohammad Kaif

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif is critical of the ‘Yo-Yo’ Test, saying that it can’t be the sole benchmark for selection into the Indian team.

A benchmark of 16.1 has been set in the Yo-Yo Test for making it to the national team. Any player who fails to clear the test doesn’t make it to the Indian squad.

“Fitness is important as we have that the fielding standard of the Indian team has improved a lot. But there should be a balanced approach,” said Kaif while speaking on ‘The Secularist and Cricketer’ at the Ekamra Sports Literature Festival.

“If a player is scoring runs and taking wickets, dropping him solely on the basis that he could not pass the ‘Yo-Yo’ is not good,” he added.

Ambati Rayudu’s case can be used as a good example to understand the consequences of failing the Yo-Yo test. After a successful IPL season with the Chennai Super Kings, Rayudu earned a national call-up for the England tour, after a two-year gap. But his subsequent failure in clearing the Yo-Yo test saw him get replaced in the squad.

Said Kaif, “When I was in the team, there was test (beep test) to know the fitness of the players but never was a player dropped from the team. He would be told that his fitness level was not good and will have make improvements in the next few months.”

The former UP cricketer also said that he felt weird at the fact that Rishabh Pant was being utilised as an outfielder.

“Rishabh is basically a wicketkeeper but he has been made to field everywhere. I believe he will not be comfortable with that,” he opined.

“With captain Virat Kohli setting an example in fitness standards, the team is doing very well and that is reflecting on the results,” added Kaif, who was one of the best fielders during his playing days.