Reports: Yuvraj Singh clears Yo-Yo test ahead of South Africa tour

What's the story?

If recent reports are to be believed, out of sorts Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh has cleared the Yo-Yo test at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore.

He achieved a score of 16.3, which is slightly above the minimum standard score of 16.1, the BCCI's benchmark for selection.

In addition to Yuvraj, 18-year-old Washington Sundar, too, cleared the Test with a score of 16.1

In case you didn't know...

The Yo-Yo test is a mandatory fitness test required to be taken by each cricketer as a fitness parameter to be selected for the Indian side. It gauges the player’s ability to run for extended periods of time, in order to check their endurance levels.

Yuvraj had failed the test on multiple occasions after it was introduced as a paramater for selection, and hence, was not considered for the ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Suresh Raina, too, had failed the test on multiple occasions.

The details

Just a few weeks ago, Yuvraj had decided to skip Punjab's Ranji Trophy encounters in order to focus on his fitness ahead of India's tour to South Africa.

He last played an ODI against West Indies shortly after the ICC Champions Trophy and has been out of contention ever since.

Having passed the test, there is a possibility of him being considered for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka and limited overs series against the Proteas which will begin in February 2018.

What's next?

India will take on Sri Lanka in three T20Is which begins on December 20.

India's tour to South Africa begins early next year with the first Test beginning on January 5 in Cape Town.

Author's take:

Yuvraj will finally be able to breathe a sigh of relief after failing the all-important fitness test on multiple occasions in the past.

However, his success this time around does not guarantee him a place on the squad. In fact, the selectors might opt against picking him in the squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka and ODI series against South Africa, given his inconsistent performances, ever since making a comeback earlier this year.