Former Team India cricketer Amit Mishra has shared his views on Rohit Sharma’s recent fitness change after the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa. The former Indian spinner said fitness should not be judged by looks alone and warned against chasing a lean look just to look fit.
Rohit was last seen playing in the ODI series against South Africa. The Indian captain is now ready to return to domestic cricket. He will represent Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 season. The Mumbai batsman is expected to feature in the first two matches of the tournament starting on December 24.
Everyone’s body is not the same – Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra said that modern cricket focuses too much on looking lean rather than actually being fit. Mishra advised the players to pay attention to healthy habits. He also said that rushing into fitness goals can lead to long-term physical problems.
Mishra said in a podcast on MensXP’s YouTube channel, “Not everyone’s body is the same. There are variations. Types vary. These days fitness is judged more on looks. To look lean. It is better to have a real body and maintain your fitness. Eat well, work hard, you will be fit. Take care of your diet and do things naturally.”
He said, “Don’t stay fit just to look fit. There are many examples who showed themselves fit in a short period of time, I will not take names, but later they faced many problems with their body. It is better to sleep well, eat well, do natural things. Go to the gym, it is good, but also hit the ground running. You need to have such a mindset.”
Rohit Sharma was fit earlier also – Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra also said that Rohit Sharma was never unfit, adding that the batsman’s physique never affected his performance. Mishra said that he always found him sharp, active and fully involved on the field. Mishra said that the claims of Rohit being overweight were based on perception, not reality.
Mishra said, “Rohit Sharma has made a comeback and is fit. He was fit earlier also. I have played with him. People called him heavy but I never felt he was slow on the field or could not score runs. It was not that he would bat and go out, he would also field and was active. Everyone has their own opinion and approach.”
Rohit Sharma’s fitness transformation helped in scoring ODI runs
Rohit Sharma lost more than 10 kg weight before the ODI series against Australia. He scored 202 runs in three matches, which included one century and one half-century. The right-handed batsman was the Player of the Series.
He continued that form into the ODI series against South Africa and scored 146 runs in three matches with two half-centuries. Rohit is expected to play in India’s home ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara from January 11.
The Mumbai batsman enjoyed a strong year in one-day cricket, scoring 650 runs in 14 matches. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the ODI batting rankings, followed by Virat Kohli. Overall, Rohit has scored 11,516 runs in 279 ODI matches with 33 centuries and 61 half-centuries.
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