‘People say he is lazy, mota hai’: Ex-India coach busts myths, reveals Rohit Sharma’s career-threatening injury
New Delhi: Former India strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai recently busted a few myths around former captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness. Rohit’s fitness has been under constant scrutiny off late, with many accusing him of not training enough to operate at an optimum level.
Despite being 39, Rohit continues to be a vital cog in India’s batting line-up in ODIs and has done well consistently. The senior batter has already made his intentions clear about representing India in the ODI World Cup next year, however, there continue to be doubts over his fitness.
Former India strength and conditioning coach Desai recently shared insights about Rohit’s fitness regime as he responded to the senior batter’s critics. Desai revealed Rohit suffered a career-threatening hip injury in 2017 and constantly does strength training, without which he might not have managed to play for as long as he has.
“So, people say this Rohit is lazy, mota hai (he’s fat), training nahi karta hai (doesn’t train). People need to understand this: Rohit Sharma had a career-threatening injury around his hip in 2017 – Champions Trophy jab hum log hare the Pakistan ke samne final, wo wali mein (during the Champions Trophy 2017). So he has got surgeries in his hamstring and his hip flexor and all that,” Soham said on a podcast with Prashant Desai.
Rohit would not have lasted if he was lazy: Desai
The former India strength and conditioning coach contradicted the claims of Rohit being lazy and not working hard enough on his fitness. He revealed that the Team India batter’s hip remains a vulnerable area and that he couldn’t last in competitive cricket if he doesn’t do at least two strength sessions in a week.
“Around his hip is his weak spot. If he doesn’t train for a minimum of two strength sessions in a week, he is a red flag, he is a ticking bomb. And that is the scenario for the last seven to eight years. So if he was not working hard, if he was lazy, he wouldn’t have lasted till today,” said Desai, who worked with Rohit during his stint with the Indian team.
“Forget about scoring runs, leading (in) IPL, playing twelve months, all formats. For the last seven-eight years, so it has been non-negotiable. Either he has to do that or he has to work in a particular manner on the ground. Without those two, he cannot last and this is not a secret. It is in public domain,” he added.
Despite being 39 and having overcome a serious injury, Rohit continues to go strong for India in ODIs, which is the only format he plays now. The senior batter has been in fine form for India over the last few months, constantly producing some impactful knocks as he aims to cement his spot in the side as an opener ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.