Rohit to take fitness test today

India's limited-overs vice-captain Rohit Sharma will take the Yo-Yo test to prove his fitness at the National Cricket Academy on Sunday, a day after rest of his Ireland and England-bound team-mates appeared for the same.

It is learnt that the Mumbai batsman had taken permission from the BCCI to skip the test on June 15 for personal engagement.

“Rohit had taken permission from the BCCI for his personal engagements (he is in Russia as a brand ambassador of a watch company). There’s no rule that all tests have to be conducted on the same day. He will be appearing for the Yo-Yo test tomorrow,” Saba Karim, BCCI GM (cricket Operations), said.

Meanwhile, the Indian selection committee will have to find a replacement for Ambati Rayudu in the one-day squad for the three-match series against England after the middle-order batsman flunked the Yo-Yo test on Friday.

Rayudu, who had enjoyed a successful IPL campaign (602 runs) with Chennai Super Kings, reportedly scored 14 in the fitness test while the qualifying mark is 16.1.

The possibility doing the round are Kedar Jadhav (subject to proving his fitness), Suresh Raina, Rishabh Pant, Manish Pandey and Krunal Pandya.

Rahane for India 'A'

Virat Kohli's deputy in Tests, Ajinkya Rahane, is all set to play the four-day match for India A against England Lions, starting July 16 in Worcester, ahead of India's five-Test series in the Old Blighty.

The India A team, led by Karun Nair, is also likely to see Kohli turn up for the match. Kohli had to skip his near one-month stint with county side Surrey after suffering a neck injury. The Indian skipper, however, cleared his fitness test here on Friday.