“I have my doubts” - Sanjay Manjrekar questions Rohit Sharma’s fitness in ODIs

Sanjay Manjrekar raises concerns about Rohit Sharma’s fitness ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. Read about his recent form, Manjrekar’s comments, and India’s preparations for the tournament.

By Waqas 11 Feb 2025 in Cricket

New Update

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has opened up on Rohit Sharma’s fitness moving into the ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to start on February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

Manjrekar asserted that while Virat Kohli has excellent fitness for any format, he has a few doubts regarding Rohit Sharma’s fitness ahead of the showpiece event. However, the Hitman shut all his critics with an impressive century against England in the second ODI in Cuttack.

“You could see it took a lot out of him that inning. Fifty overs cricket can be physically very demanding for bowlers, fielders, and batters. Virat Kohli knows how physically draining it can be, and that is why his fitness level has allowed him to still get those hundreds by running the ones and twos,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

Unfortunately, Rohit Sharma has been underperforming of late across the formats. In the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Rohit managed to score only 31 runs from five innings. Later in the first ODI against England, he scored only two runs. Nevertheless, he was at his best, scoring an excellent century in the Cuttack ODI to shut his critics.

“Rohit Sharma had a different template where he didn’t have to run too much. It was amazing how he got his second double hundred. But at this stage of his career, when you watched him go through the whole process and get that big hundred, he wanted it. Whether he can do it day in and day out like he did in 2019, we will have to wait and see. I have my doubts. But both versions of Rohit Sharma 2019 and 2023 are excellent for Indian cricket,” Manjrekar added.

Team India will move to the ICC Champions Trophy after the conclusion of the ODI series against England. India will take on Bangladesh, Pakistan and New Zealand in the group stage.

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