Credit: X
Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, feels that the players should get selected based on their talent and skill, rather than being sidelined due to a Yo-Yo test result. The 42-year-old is currently rumoured to be the leading candidate to replace Rahul Dravid in the Indian coaching role after the conclusion of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.
Just a month ago, Gautam Gambhir mentored Kolkata Knight Riders to their first IPL title in a decade after getting the better of Sunrisers Hyderabad in a one-sided final at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He played a key role in galvanising the franchise, which was struggling to make the playoffs stage in the IPL for the last couple of years.
Notably, BCCI had invited prospective candidates to apply for the Indian coaching job after Rahul Dravid decided to not continue in the job after the T20 World Cup 2024. It remains to be seen whether Gautam Gambhir, who has been seen as a successor to Rahul Dravid in the job, has applied for it
During his recent interview with Sportskeeda, Gautam Gambhir spoke about the usage of Yo-Yo test results in player selection. He said, “Fitness should be a factor, but I also do not agree that we have to pass a fitness test to be called fit. I don't agree to that. Fitness should directly be related to the trainer. If a trainer feels that you're fit enough, some people are physically strong from a point of view that they can lift a lot of weights in the gym,” Gambhir told Sportskeeda during an interaction.
“But if you don't select someone just because of a yo-yo test, I don't think that's the right way. You select players on their talent, on their batting skills, on their bowling skills. And it is the trainer's job to keep working on their fitness and keep making them better physically as well. Just because someone doesn't pass a yo-yo test and doesn't get selected, I think that is a bit unfair,” Gautam Gambhir added.
