New Delhi. If anyone wants proof of fitness in cricket then he should watch the India-New Zealand test match. In this match, India was saved from defeat by two such players, whose even staunchest fans would hardly praise their fitness. Often while talking about fitness, only physical structure is given preference. If there is fat on the waist or stomach, then questions are raised about one's fitness. The game of Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant completely rejects such questions.
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant made a partnership of 177 runs against New Zealand when India was in danger of an innings defeat. India, which was all out for 46 runs in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test, lost 3 wickets for 231 runs in the second innings as well. After this, Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant took India to 408 runs. However, the hard work of these two batsmen was ruined by the batsmen who came later.
If you want to win then let's go towards the spin track… India remembered its old strength in the 'do or die' match with New Zealand
Sarfaraz Khan was out after scoring 150 runs and Rishabh Pant was out after scoring 99 runs. Both these batsmen played brilliant innings on a wicket which was slightly different from the traditional pitches of India. There was more bounce on this than the normal pitches of India. You will get more bouncy wickets than this on the Australia tour. In such a situation, if the failure of other batsmen creates concern for India, then Sarfaraz and Rishabh Pant also give hope.
Sarfaraz Khan and Rishabh Pant have shown that normal fitness and sports fitness are two different things. In sports fitness, your mental strength is a more important condition. The selectors should also find a way to give preference to mentally strong players. There is no doubt that one of the reasons for Sarfaraz Khan's late entry into Team India is that in the eyes of those who have to take decisions, he was not fit. Whenever Sarfaraz scored runs, his weight was also seen.
Why not just Sarfaraz Khan, take Rishabh Pant. This player does not have a slim personality. But this player is the wicketkeeper of Team India. Who does sit-ups approximately 600 times a day during a Test match and runs to the wicket pass to collect throws approximately 150 or 200 times.
Time to say goodbye to yo-yo tests
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar writes in his column in 'Sportsstar' that now the time has come to give priority to sports fitness instead of yo-yo test. If a batsman can bat the whole day. If a bowler can bowl 20 overs in a day then he is fit. It is not necessary that all fitness is determined by yo-yo test. Also, the selectors should also give weightage to mental fitness while choosing the team because ultimately this proves to be most important in the success of any player or team.
Tags: India vs new zealand, Rishabh Pant, Sarfaraz Khan, Team india
FIRST PUBLISHED : October 21, 2024, 10:33 PM IST
