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‘Look at Virat Kohli’: Sanjay Manjrekar questions Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav fitness standards
TL;DR
Sanjay Manjrekar criticized Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav for their fitness levels compared to Virat Kohli. He emphasized that Kohli's commitment to fitness has contributed to his sustained success in cricket.
Key points
- Sanjay Manjrekar critiques Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav's fitness.
- Manjrekar compares their conditioning to Virat Kohli's standards.
- Kohli's fitness is linked to his sustained success in cricket.
Mentioned in this story
Sanjay ManjrekarVirat KohliRohit SharmaSuryakumar Yadav
NEW DELHI: Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has drawn a sharp comparison between Virat Kohli’s fitness culture and the physical standards of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, suggesting both batters made life harder for themselves by not maintaining elite conditioning levels as they moved into their 30s.
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Speaking on Sportstar’s Insight Edge Podcast, Manjrekar said Kohli’s long-lasting success across formats is directly linked to his extreme focus on fitness, while players like Rohit and Surya may have suffered because they failed to match those standards.
“Take a leaf out of Virat Kohli’s book,” Manjrekar said. “Virat is not in his early 30s and he had tough times in T20 cricket, but look at him this season. And what is the one difference between Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli’s fitness?”
Manjrekar said Suryakumar still possesses the experience and skillset to succeed, but believes fitness has become the missing piece.
“So the mental side of things is there. Just get your body to support your intent,” he explained.
“I thought Rohit Sharma as well fell off and waned off because he didn't take care of his fitness as much as he should have. He just made things a little more difficult. I see that with Surya as well.”
‘Go into extreme fitness like Virat’
Manjrekar repeatedly pointed towards Kohli’s discipline as the benchmark modern cricketers should follow.
“Take your fitness levels to the next level. Go into extreme fitness like Virat does,” he said. “When Virat gets any success, the first thing he attributes that to is his physical fitness.”
According to Manjrekar, T20 cricket becomes increasingly unforgiving once players cross 30 if physical conditioning drops even slightly.
He described Suryakumar’s recent decline as one of the most fascinating stories in T20 cricket after years of sustained brilliance.
“He and Jos Buttler ruled T20 batting,” Manjrekar said. “But then this sudden drop of form came… the consistency of brilliance was followed by this consistent failure.”
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The former India batter believes age and declining fitness may be affecting Surya’s trademark hand-eye coordination, especially for his unconventional shots behind square.
Q&A
What did Sanjay Manjrekar say about Rohit Sharma's fitness?
Sanjay Manjrekar suggested that Rohit Sharma's fitness standards have not matched those of Virat Kohli, impacting his performance as he ages.
How does Virat Kohli's fitness compare to Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav?
Virat Kohli maintains a higher level of fitness, which Manjrekar believes is crucial for his ongoing success, unlike Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav.
Why is fitness important for cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav?
Fitness is vital for cricketers as it affects their performance and longevity in the sport, as highlighted by Manjrekar in his comparison with Kohli.