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'For Me Fitness Is Not...' - Rohit Sharma Reflects On His Longevity After 17 Years In Int'l Cricket

Rohit Sharma in ODI for India (Source: @kadaipaneeeer/x.com)Rohit Sharma in ODI for India (Source: @kadaipaneeeer/x.com)

Rohit Sharma, currently leading India in the second and final Test match against Bangladesh in Kanpur, opened up about the challenges of maintaining fitness and mental resilience throughout his 17-year international career. 

In a candid conversation with FITTR, he emphasized the importance of mental strength and physical preparation for his remarkable longevity in cricket. Rohit Sharma made his international debut against Ireland in 2007 and since then he has established himself as a cornerstone of the team. 

Rohit Sharma Comments On His Fitness And Increasing Demand Of Mental Stability

Reflecting on his career, Rohit Sharma highlighted that playing at the highest level for nearly two decades is a significant challenge. It is worth mentioning that, Rohit is on the verge of becoming the fifth Indian cricketer to cross the 500-match milestone in international cricket. 

"To play for 17 years and close to 500 games for India, not many cricketers globally have achieved that. There must be very few in number. To have that longevity, there has to be something about your routine, how you manage your fitness and mindset, and how you train yourself.  Our job is to be 100 percent ready to perform. And then, if you look back, preparation includes fitness, recovery, and what you eat. For me to be game-ready, 100 percent and at my best, we have to manage 3–4 aspects," Rohit said during an interaction with FITTR.

Rohit Sharma Opens Up On His Physical Fitness 

During the conversation, Rohit elaborated on the rigorous demands of modern cricket and how staying mentally prepared has been just as crucial as maintaining physical fitness.

He stressed that his approach to fitness is not solely about physical appearance but about being able to sustain high performance over multiple formats and long durations. 

"For me, for cricketers, fitness is not about how you look body-wise; it's about what you can contribute to the team. It's about whether you can be on the field for five days with full intensity. Can you play a 100-over game, the ODI format, and be at your best for all 100 overs? And then, if there's energy left, you can play the T20 format.

Rohit Sharma retired from T20 Internationals after the T20 World Cup 2024 victory in June. However, he remains active in the T20 format through the IPL. He finished his T20I career with 4,231 runs in 159 matches at an average of 31.34 with a strike rate of 140.89, including 5 centuries and 32 fifties.

Rohit is expected to continue leading the Indian side in ODIs at least until the Champions Trophy next year and the Test side until at least the World Championship final in 2025