Is Rohit Sharma intentionally delaying the Yo-Yo Test, BCCI responds

The BCCI has responded to claims that Indian opener Rohit Sharma is intentionally delaying the Yo-Yo Test as he is not currently fit enough as per the 16.1 benchmark. Reports that he failed the test twice during the IPL have further raised eyebrows.

While Ambati Rayudu, Mohammad Shami and Sanju Samson failed to clear the Yo-Yo Test, Rohit Sharma managed to skip the test first up.

“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,” Saba Karim, GM Cricket Operations said.

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It was later reported that Rohit will appear for the Test on Sunday. Then the date got postponed to Tuesday and now it has been further postponed to Wednesday i.e. today.

In the string of tests conducted, a majority of the Indian cricketers passed. Apart from Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Siddarth Kaul and Manish Pandey also cleared the Yo Yo test without much difficulty. MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kedar Jadhav and Suresh Raina also cleared the test with flying colours.

“There is nothing new in having a stand by. In case the necessity arises, Rahane is being seen as a reserve opener and will fill in that role. As of now, we have not heard that Rohit has any fitness issues,” a BCCI official said.

Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been kept on standby in case Rohit fails the Test. If Rohit flunks the test today, he would have to be dropped from the side as per BCCI guidelines. Rahane will then take his place and represent India on the UK tour.