Brad Hogg slams Varun Chakravarthy, Rahul Tewatia for failing the fitness test

Former Australian spinner Brag Hogg has slammed Varun Chakravarthy and Rahul Tewatia for flunking the mandatory fitness test. The duo has been dropped from the T20 squad for the ongoing England series. Mystery Spinner Varun Chakravarthy and all-rounder Rahul Tewatia became the latest players to lose their positions in the national team for failing the BCCI's fitness test. The Indian team management headed by Ravi Shastri has made the fitness tests mandatory for selection.

Varun was called into the T20I team for the second time, whereas Tewatia had earned his maiden call-up on the back of a fantastic IPL season. With the India-England T20Is being the final series before IPL, the duo will have to continue their form in the forthcoming IPL season to keep their spots.

They do not have the dedication to play international cricket: Brad Hogg

Amidst all this, veteran Australia spinner Brad Hogg has slammed the duo and reckoned that they do not have the dedication to play international cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hogg also stated that this could turn out to be their last opportunity. Chakravarthy had first drawn selectors' attention when the spinner picked up 17 wickets in the 14th edition of IPL. Despite missing the Australia tour due to a shoulder issue, he still kept the selectors' interest intact. The relatively new selection panel led by Chetan Sharma retained him for England T20 international series.

On the other end, Tewatia was selected after he scored 255 runs and claimed ten wickets in IPL. He became the focus of attention after smashing Punjab Kings' Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over last year. Apart from them, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kisan were other new arrivals in the squad. The duo cleared the mandatory fitness test and are part of the team now. They are likely to make their debuts in the ongoing series. In 2018, Ambati Rayudu was dropped from the One Day side after he failed the yo-yo test. Mohammed Shami also lost his Test spot for a match against Afghanistan. Sanju Samson, who even flunked the yo-yo test, lost his place in the India A side.

England started the five-match series with a comfortable 8-wicket win over India. The next match will take place at the same venue on March 14.

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