The Indian all-rounder cleared the Yo-Yo test at the NCA but Delhi Capitals opener Prithvi Shaw suffered a setback.
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India all-rounder Hardik Pandya cleared the Yo-Yo test at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru on Wednesday and is all set to lead Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2022. The development not only comes as a major boost for the Ahmedabad-based franchise but also for the Indian cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup, starting from October 2022.
The Board of Control For Cricket in India (BCCI) is assessing all their centrally contracted players — injured and otherwise — in a two-day camp at the NCA. And the Baroda all-rounder passed it with flying colours as he scored a 17-plus score, comfortably crossing the threshold of 16.5.
“Let’s make it clear. Fitness test clearance is only for those who are coming back from injury. In case of Hardik, it was about getting a general fitness assessment going into the gruelling IPL season,” said a BCCI source as quoted by PTI.
“He is an asset, and one needed to check his current fitness standards,” he added.
The all-rounder has been out of the national team set-up since his last appearance against Namibia in the T20 World Cup on November 8, 2021 and recurring injuries have prevented him from bowling consistently over the last few years.
However, in a major sign of his all-round return, Pandya bowled at the NCA despite bowling not being a mandate during the fitness sessions.
“He didn’t need to bowl at NCA, but he has bowled for considerable time and in the range of 135 kmph. On the second day, he crossed the Yo-Yo test with flying colours with a 17-plus score, which is much above the cut-off level,” the source said.
Young India opener Prithvi Shaw, who led the Mumbai Ranji team in the prestigious domestic tournament, was also a part of the Yo-Yo test camp set-up at NCA as a centrally-contracted player.
The former U-19 World Cup winning captain, however, suffered a setback as he didn’t clear the Yo-Yo test. It has been learnt from the sources that he scored less than 15 but it won’t prevent him from featuring for the capital franchise in the lucrative tournament.
“These are just fitness updates. Obviously, it doesn’t stop Prithvi from playing for Delhi Capitals in IPL. It’s just a fitness parameter and not the be all and end all,” the source said.
“Look, he has played three Ranji matches back-to-back. Once you play three First-Class games on the bounce, the fatigue can also affect your Yo-Yo score.”
Shaw had amassed 479 runs at an average of 31.93 in the previous season of IPL.
