Ravichandran Ashwin clears Yo-Yo test at NCA

The process of team selection has undergone big changes in the recent past. The board and selectors now focus much more on players’ fitness so that they can contribute with an upgraded fielding performance during matches. Earlier, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina failed to cross the hurdle as they both have performed poorly in the Yo-Yo Test and other such fitness programmes.

Ashwin, who featured in Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy opener against Andhra Pradesh recently, cleared the Yo-Yo fitness test. The 31-year-old wrote on his Twitter account that he cleared the test which is now mandatory step to play for India.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer was not picked for the limited overs series against Australia as young bowlers like Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav continue to give him a tough challenge. It remains to be seen whether he will be picked for the upcoming series against New Zealand.