How Rohit Sharma shed 11kg ahead of Australia ODIs
What's the story
Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has made a stunning transformation by shedding nearly 11kg for the ODI series against Australia Down Under. He returned to international cricket after a long hiatus with the 1st ODI against Australia in Perth. Abhishek Nayar, the former India assistant coach, supervised Rohit's transformation. Ahead of the series opener, Nayar revealed the rigorous routine that helped Rohit regain his fitness.
Training regimen
A look at his training routine
Speaking to the official broadcaster, Nayar revealed that Rohit followed a strict three-hour daily training routine, six days a week. The focus was on high-repetition strength and endurance exercises. "The first five weeks were about a bodybuilder's mindset, where he was trying to train to completely lean down," Nayar said. He added that Rohit did 700-800 reps for every body part during these sessions, which lasted around an hour and a half each day.
Athletic evolution
Focus on being athletic
Nayar also revealed that Rohit focused on becoming more athletic than just building muscle. He said, "It's been a lot of hard work, from being a bodybuilder to becoming an athlete in those few weeks." The coach also shared how the transformation affected Rohit's game. After losing weight, the first time they practiced together, Rohit played a defensive shot and said: "Bhai, main toh ud raha hoon (Brother, I'm flying)."
Dietary discipline
Changes in diet
Along with his rigorous training, Rohit also made drastic changes to his diet. He gave up on Mumbai's famous vadapav, a dish he was often trolled for loving. Nayar said, "It was his commitment to go home and not indulge in the famous vadapav and everything else people talk about." He added that the cricketer's dedication to controlling his eating habits was as important as his training routine.
Motivational trigger
How a viral photo inspired Rohit
Nayar revealed that a viral photo of Rohit, taken at an airport, inspired this change in him. The coach said, "A photo like that went viral after he returned from his holiday post the Indian Premier League (IPL). That photo claimed he was overweight." He added that while the goal was to get fit for cricket, they also kept in mind how people would visually perceive Rohit.
Comeback
Rohit falters in comeback game
While Rohit's transformation stunned the fans, he endured a disappointing comeback on the field. In the 1st ODI against Australia in Perth, the former Indian captain fell for 8 (14). Rohit earlier became the fifth Indian with 500 international appearances. According to ESPNcricinfo, Rohit joined Sachin Tendulkar (664), Virat Kohli (551), MS Dhoni (535), and Rahul Dravid (504) in this regard.