The Yo-Yo Test has become a mandatory fitness assessment program in Indian cricket, with virtually no player allowed to be a part of the Indian team unless they get a particular score in the Test. The rules for Indian Premier League franchises, however, are different. For the MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings – a team that is branded as ‘Daddy’s Army’ – the Yo-Yo Test is not a measure to gauge players’ fitness.
With a huge chunk of players in the CSK dressing room being over 30, coach Stephen Fleming spoke about the fitness elements of his players and how the management has set different mechanisms in place to gauge a player’s fitness.
“It’s never been part of CSK’s fitness programme. We have enough ways to keep the guys up to speed and the way we wanted them to play. We can only speak from CSK’s perspective. There are certain expectations of fitness which will be met. We have world-class physio and trainer with us. We don’t spend time policing them because we have other things prioritised,” Fleming was quoted as saying by PTI.
“The expectation was the players would do their work so that they can meet the standard set by the Indian team. However, I expect the players to do their work so that they can meet the standard set by the Indian team. And I don’t want CSK players to be labelled as underperformers in fitness,” the 45-year-old explained.
It will be an MS Dhoni – Virat Kohli showdown in the opening match of the IPL 12 at MA Chidambaram stadium on Saturday as the 2019 season of the franchise-based cricket league officially kicks off.
