After the conclusion of the fourth and final Test match, hosts India and England will be locking horns in a five-match T20I series at the Narendra Modi Stadium starting with the first T20I on March 12. The Indian selectors has handed maiden call-ups to the trio of Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tewatia and Ishan Kishan in the recently named 19-member squad for the five T20Is. However, in the recent development, Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Rahul Tewatia has failed to clear the fitness test ahead of the T20I series against England at home.
Related: India vs England 4th Test: Preview, Team News, Possible Playing XI
In the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Tewatia made headlines after he slammed Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) pacer Sheldon Cottrell for a total of 30 runs in an over during his incredible unbeaten knock of 53 runs which powered Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling win. Tewatia finished IPL 2020 with 255 runs and 10 wickets to his name that helped him to bag his maiden India call-up. However, according to the latest reports by The Telegraph, Tewatia has performed well below the fitness parameters expected by the national players.
According to the latest fitness parameters introduced by the BCCI, a player either needs to score 17:1 in the Yo-Yo Test or cover 2 Km in the time frame of 8.3 minutes. It has now been learned that both Tewatia and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy will be given a second chance to prove their fitness after they failed to do so in the first attempt.
“It has been introduced to push fitness standards and maintain endurance. He will get more than one chance,” the source added.
Related: Varun Chakravarthy doubtful for T20I series against England
It has been learned that the national selectors and team management will take a final call on the same players after National Cricket Academy will inform about player’s latest developments. In the last week, it was informed that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy also failed to clear the fitness test ahead of the India vs England T20I series. Chakravarthy has already failed to make his potential debut due to an injury just before T20I series against Australia and he will surely not want to miss the golden opportunity once again.
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