MUMBAI: The BCCI’s fitness tests are back in the news again. According to a top source, wicketkeeper batsmen Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan, batsman Nitish Rana, legspinning allrounder Rahul Tewatia and seamers Siddarth Kaul and Jaydev Unadkat have all failed to clear the new ‘2-km run’ fitness test introduced by the BCCI at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore this week.
“Since this is a new type of a fitness test, they will all get a second chance to clear it at a fresh date, after some gap.
However, if they fail to clear it, then it puts their selection for the forthcoming white-ball series comprising five T20Is and three ODIs against England at home in doubt,” a source told TOI.
In 2018, Samson, Mohammed Shami and Ambati Rayudu had failed to clear the yo-yo test, following which they weren’t included for the limited-overs games on the England tour.
Samson was a part of the Indian team which played the T20I series in Australia last winter.
“A few fitness tests were conducted for around 20-odd cricketers who are in reckoning for the limitedovers series against England at home, and for the T20 World Cup in India later this year. Among these tests was the now famous yo-yo test and the new ‘2km run’ fitness test. In this test, a batsman, wicketkeeper or a spinner has to complete the twokilometre distance in eight minutes and 30 seconds, while for a fast bowler, the benchmark is eight minutes and 15 seconds. Six of the players failed to clear these tests. Some players barely managed to complete the run,” the source said.
Asked about the logic of conducting this new test, the source said: “Like in the case of the yo-yo test, it will be mandatory. Kohli and Shastri are convinced about this criteria being set in stone.”