In an unexpected turn of events, Virat Kohli’s recent Instagram story has caused a stir within the cricketing world. The India national cricket team former captain’s revelation of his yo-yo fitness test score through a social media update didn’t sit well with the higher-ups at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Responding promptly, the BCCI has taken action to address the matter.
Kohli’s Instagram story, which went live on Thursday, disclosed that he had achieved a yo-yo test score of 17.2, surpassing the mandated benchmark of 16.5 set by the BCCI. Accompanied by a photo of himself, Kohli’s caption read, “The happiness of finishing the yo-yo test between the dreaded cones. 17.2 done.” However, this seemingly innocuous post triggered a chain of events that led the BCCI to implement new guidelines for players.
Sources report that the Indian team management swiftly introduced stringent guidelines for all Indian cricketers shortly after Kohli’s post gained viral attention. Notably, players were explicitly instructed not to share their yo-yo test scores, which are considered confidential information, on any social media platforms. The directive was issued by the top leadership of the BCCI, as reported by The Indian Express.
According to the same report, cricketers currently participating in a fitness and preparatory camp in Alur, Bengaluru ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup, were verbally informed about the new guidelines.
The BCCI’s rapid response stems from concerns that disclosing such confidential information could potentially breach contractual obligations. A BCCI official emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality and was quoted stating, “Players have been informed verbally to avoid posting any confidential matter on social media platforms. They can post pictures while training but posting a score leads to breach of contract clause.”
The ongoing training camp in Alur is a crucial part of the team’s preparations for the Asia Cup. The camp, spanning six days, began on Thursday and witnessed prominent players such as Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya undergoing the yo-yo test, both of whom successfully cleared it.
Asia Cup ahead
The camp primarily focuses on cricketers who are part of the Asia Cup squad and did not participate in the Ireland tour following their West Indies commitments. Alongside Kohli, Rohit, and Pandya, players like Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj are also part of the camp.
Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Sanju Samson, and Tilak Varma, who played in the T20I series against Ireland, are set to join the camp after their return from Dublin. The training regimen includes various evaluations like lipid profiles, blood sugar tests, and more.
In addition to fitness routines, the camp will incorporate outdoor activities, including match simulation sessions led by batting coach Vikram Rathour and head coach Rahul Dravid.
India’s journey in the Asia Cup begins with a match against Pakistan on September 2. All the matches are scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka. The developments surrounding Kohli’s Instagram post have highlighted the growing significance of maintaining privacy over certain aspects of the game, even in the age of social media sharing.
