Rohit Sharma (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
New Delhi: Rohit Sharma is not missing any training sessions with Mumbai Indians. In the nets on Friday afternoon at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, he put his head down and mostly worked on improving his defensive technique.
Refrain from playing booming shots on the ground.Rohit is 26 days away from turning 39, but the 15 kg he has lost has made him look younger, almost unrecognizable. He is clearly on a mission to prove his worth as an international class cricketer even as he faces constant scrutiny over his place in the Indian squad for the ODI World Cup 2027. The journey began with honest conversations with the Mumbai Indians management last year.
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“He had a clear plan regarding his fitness. Some of our team members participated in his training and he worked on reaching a level that he was comfortable with,” Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene said on Friday.“Although he has not played much competitive cricket, he has done a lot of skill work in the off-season. He joined us from the first day of camp and we had discussions on how to get started. We did many simulations and practice matches.
“For someone with his experience, a lot of it comes down to muscle memory and understanding situations,” he added.One of the major concerns around him is the lack of year-round cricket he plays after his retirement from Tests and T20Is. He allayed these concerns in MI’s opener against KKR with an explosive 38-ball 78.“Rohit’s case was a little different because he didn’t play much cricket. He focused on his fitness for a few months and then resumed the skill work. Since he has been in Mumbai, he has used our facilities whenever possible but pretty much knows what is best for him. He has remained focused, relaxed and has been a very positive presence for the group,” Jayawardene said. “When I saw him in the net, he looked like he was in very good shape – his hand speed was excellent.”The true test of Rohit’s stamina, ability and fitness will be judged by his consistency in scoring throughout the long IPL season.
