India Hockey Star Ridicules Virat Kohli’s Yo-Yo Test Score: 'Junior Girls In Hockey Score 17-18'
Hardik Singh boldly compares Hockey players and Cricketers’ Yo-Yo Test scores (ICC)
In a revelation that’s sure to ruffle feathers across Indian sports, Indian hockey midfielder Hardik Singh has boldly claimed that his teammates routinely achieve far higher Yo-Yo Test scores than the nation’s cricketing superstars. Hardik’s statement, suggesting that hockey players consistently outperform cricketers in the fitness benchmark, has thrown down the gauntlet in a debate that’s been simmering for some time.
The Yo-Yo Test, a measure of endurance and speed that has become synonymous with fitness in Indian sports, was brought into the limelight when the BCCI made it mandatory for selection in the national cricket team.
Virat Kohli, an icon of fitness and discipline in cricket, has often been hailed as the fittest athlete in Indian cricket, with his best score recorded at 17.2. However, Hardik’s eye-opening revelation paints a different picture.
"Hockey Players Set the Bar Higher"
In a recent podcast, Hardik Singh let the cat out of the bag, revealing that his hockey teammates, including veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, regularly score in the 20s, with some even hitting the maximum score of 23.8.
“In cricket, if anyone is scoring 19 or 20 on the Yo-Yo Test, people call it the fittest,” Hardik quipped. “But Sreejesh scores 21.”
He also added that junior girls in hockey score 17-18, a range that Virat Kohli himself falls into, sparking disbelief among many fans and sports enthusiasts alike.
The Yo-Yo Test requires athletes to perform repeated sprints between two cones, with the intensity increasing after every set. While it has been a common yardstick across several sports, Hardik’s comments hint that cricket’s fitness standards might pale in comparison to those in hockey.
Kohli’s Legacy Questioned?
Virat Kohli's commitment to fitness has been a crucial aspect of his cricketing success. In fact, under his captaincy, fitness became a non-negotiable criterion for Team India, with the Yo-Yo Test acting as the ultimate test of players' physical brilliance.
For fans of Indian cricket, Kohli’s score of 17.2 has long been accepted as a benchmark of excellence. But Hardik Singh’s revelation throws a spanner in the works, begging the question—are cricket’s fitness standards lagging behind?
A Debate for the Ages
Hardik’s statements have stirred the pot, and it’s no surprise. After all, fitness has long been touted as a key factor behind Virat Kohli’s ability to run between the wickets like a gazelle, turn games on their head with electric fielding, and maintain consistency over the years. But as Hardik Singh suggests, there might be more to fitness than meets the eye in cricket.