Sunil Gavaskar raises questions about YoYo score disclosure amid Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill controversy
During the Indian team's training camp in Bengaluru, Kohli on Instagram, shared his YoYo test score of 17.2.
Last Updated: 03.47 PM, Sep 07, 2023
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has chimed in on the controversy ignited by Virat Kohli's recent Instagram activity, offering the perspective that sharing YoYo test results publicly might not be the worst idea for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In fact, he believes that it should be made public to see how fit the players are ahead of big competitions.
In the run-up to the Asia Cup 2023, during the Indian team's training camp in Bengaluru, Kohli on Instagram, shared his YoYo test score of 17.2. This action raised concerns among BCCI authorities, who viewed it as a potential "breach of contract." The players received instructions advising them against disclosing confidential information to the public.
However, a few days later, news agency PTI reported that Shubman Gill had, in fact, achieved a higher YoYo test score. Gill's score of 18.7 exceeded the requisite threshold of 16.5 which had many saying that Kohli was not the fittest cricketer in the Indian team. It's essential to note that YoYo test scores take into account various factors to assess an athlete's fitness level.
Offering his perspective on the matter, Gavaskar cautioned against overanalyzing Gill's superior score. He elucidated the underlying rationale behind these tests being conducted on a global stage.
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"There was a lot of excitement when Kohli put out his YoYo score which was more than the limit that the BCCI trainers had set. Shubman Gill posting an even better YoYo score than Virat was by no means one-upmanship. The age difference between the two mustn't be forgotten and the elder has to be admired for his fitness standard. The BCCI then directed that nobody should post their YoYo test scores which might have actually saved some blushes for some," Gavaskar wrote in his column for Mid-Day.
"If it is true that unless the minimum standard of the YoYo test is not met, then the player is not eligible for selection then it's all the more important for this test to be done in the public domain so that the public that follows the game in their millions know that there are no players who have not met the minimum standard in the team."