Players today are left with no choice but to match the supreme fitness standards set by skipper Virat Kohli.
Every captain brings about his own culture. Sourav Ganguly taught his team how to be fearless, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni showed how to win major trophies.
Virat Kohli's biggest gift to Indian cricket might well be the introduction of supreme fitness standards.
With the skipper himself setting never-seen-before heights in terms of fitness, it's only natural that the rest of the players have no choice but to follow suit.
The effects of this change have been there for all to see. Team India are no longer the laggards they once were on the field. The endurance and strength that the players have has enabled them to be a major force in world cricket today.
Anyone who doesn't match these standards, doesn't find a place in the scheme of things. As simple as that. Two-time World Cup-winner Yuvraj Singh will know this better than anyone else.
Clearing the 'Yo-Yo Test' is now mandatory for players hoping to represent the national team. Yuvi's failure in clearing this test has seen him fall way behind in the pecking order.
Another southpaw who seemed to be phasing out is Suresh Raina. The considerable weight he'd put on during the Indian Premier League 2017 was noticed by one and all. That, and the lack of runs in the domestic circuit, has seen Raina fall behind in the race for the coveted spot in India's middle-order.
On Thursday, though, Raina put out a post on social media that is sure to bring a smile on his fans' face.
The 31-year-old has been putting in the hard yards at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for a while now. And as it turns out, he has finally managed to clear the dreaded Yo-Yo Test.
Raina shared this happy news with his followers on Instagram on Thursday. "Cleared my Yo-Yo & fitness test today, after days of hard work at #NCA! Received tremendous support from all the trainers, coaches & officials.
Thank you all! It’s always so encouraging to train here at #NCA, motivates me to push my limits and bring the best out of me," he wrote in his post.
Here's Raina's post
Well, we're glad Raina is back to peak fitness. Because that's the level Kohli has set, and that's the level he demands.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Suresh")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}