"Rohit Sharma Is As Fit As Virat Kohli, Always Passes The Yo-Yo Test.."- BCCI Fitness Coach

Time and again, Rohit Sharma has been trolled and ridiculed for his physical appearance. While the India skipper is one of the best batsmen and is also a brilliant fielder, his bulky physique has made many assume that he is not the fittest of cricketers.

Not very long ago, even former India captain Kapil Dev questioned Rohit Sharma’s fitness, stating that it is shameful for the star batsman not to be fit despite leading the side. Speaking to a news outlet earlier this year, Kapil Dev had called the current India captain ‘a bit overweight’, saying:

“It is very important (to be fit). More so for a captain. It’s a shame if you are not fit. Rohit needs to put some hard work on it. He is a great batter but when you talk about his fitness, he looks a bit overweight, at least on TV.”

Fitness coach on Rohit Sharma:

While Rohit Sharma’s fitness has been questioned time and again, Ankit Kaliyar, a strength and conditioning coach with the BCCI, has stated that the Indian captain is not unfit. He even compared him to Virat Kohli, who is widely regarded as one of the fittest, if not the fittest, cricketer in the world. Kaliyar also disclosed that Rohit Sharma always passes the yo-yo test.

“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 is amazing. He is among the fittest cricketers,” Kaliyar told the Times of India.

Speaking further, he also said that a player cannot be called unfit just because he fails to clear the yo-yo test and also explained the reason. In recent years, several players have faced the wrath of the fans and were called unfit for failing to clear the mandatory fitness test.

“No. Not at all. If a player hasn’t passed the Yo-Yo test, this doesn’t tag him as an unfit player. A player plays cricket throughout the year.

“Sometimes, he gets injured, has niggle, his back is stiff, has muscles not working properly, spasms or any health issues, etc. I have to analyse the exact issue and then prepare a program and module for him. Then it is my job to take things and help the player recover fast and pass the test again,” said Kaliyar.