'He looks like he is bulky but....' - Indian Team's Fitness Coach silences debates on Rohit Sharma's fitness standards

The fitness of Indian cricketers has shown massive improvement with the introduction of the Yo-Yo test which has been the main criteria to see if the players are fit enough. The main debate has been whether current India skipper Rohit Sharma meets those standards. According to Indian strength and conditioning (S&C) coach Ankit Kaliyar, he is among the fittest players in the team. This is in contrast to the statements made by other experts who think he doesn't meet the fitness criteria set by other players. He has also stated that Rohit is as fit as Virat Kohli who is currently one of the fittest cricketers in the world. 

The S&C coach was asked whether he was able to pass the Yo-Yo test which is a big challenge faced by many players. He clearly stated, “Rohit Sharma is a fit player. He has good fitness. He looks a bit bulky but he always passes the Yo-Yo test. He is as fit as Virat Kohli. He looks like he is bulky but we have seen him on the field. His agility and mobility are amazing. He is among the fittest cricketers." 

Comparison with Virat

While comparing the fitness of both these top batters he has praised Kohli for setting the fitness standards."Virat is a leading example when it comes to fitness. He has created a culture of fitness in the team. When your top player is so fit, then you become an example for others” which is clearly stated by Ankit Kaliyar.

These statements by the current S&C coach of the Indian team have given us clarity that both the players are meeting the fitness standards despite having different kinds of physiques. Both the players have visibly given consistent performances as well in every format.

There will be certain debates on Rohit’s fitness and his comparison to Virat. However, despite not looking like one of the fittest players on paper, Rohit is still playing competitively and has shown great energy on the field even during the ODI World Cup.