New Delhi: Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has drawn a stark comparison between Virat Kohli’s fitness culture and the physical standards of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, suggesting that both batsmen made their lives difficult by not maintaining elite conditioning levels well into their 30s.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Speaking on Sportsstar’s Insight Edge podcast, Manjrekar said that Kohli’s enduring success across formats is directly related to his intense focus on fitness, while players like Rohit and Suriya have suffered because they failed to meet those standards.Take a leaf out of Virat Kohli’s book, Manjrekar said. “Virat is not in his early 30s and has had a tough time in T20 cricket, but look at him this season. And what is the difference in fitness between Rohit Sharma, Surya Kumar Yadav and Virat Kohli?”
Manjrikar said Suryakumar still has the experience and skills to succeed, but he believes the fitness has disappeared.“So the mental side of things is there. Just prepare your body to support your intention,” he explained.“I thought Rohit Sharma also slipped and fell because he didn’t take care of his fitness as much as he should have. It made things a bit difficult. I see the same with Suriya.”
‘Get into extreme fitness like Virat’
Manjrekar repeatedly pointed to Kohli’s discipline as the standard modern cricketers should follow.“Take your fitness level to the next level. Get into extreme fitness like Virat,” he said. “When Virat gets any success, the first thing he attributes it to is his physical fitness.”According to Manjrikar, T20 cricket becomes unforgiving when players cross 30 if physical conditioning declines even slightly.He described Suriya Kumar’s recent decline as the most interesting story in T20 cricket after years of consistent brilliance.“He and Jos Buttler ruled the T20 batting,” said Manjrekar. “But then came this sudden drop in form… After that constant failure came consistency of brilliance.”The former India batsman believes that age and fitness are affecting Suriya’s trademark hand-eye coordination, especially for his unorthodox shots behind square.“I am sure of one thing, his fitness is not what it should be,” Manjrekar said. “If I were his personal coach, I’d just make him lighter and stronger on his feet.”
