Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a debate about the importance of fitness in cricket, particularly among the country's top batters. In a recent podcast, Manjrekar drew a stark comparison between the fitness standards of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav, arguing that their physical conditioning has significantly impacted their performance as they've aged.
Manjrekar believes that Kohli's longevity and success across various formats are directly tied to his unwavering focus on fitness. He suggests that Kohli's extreme fitness discipline sets him apart from his contemporaries, especially as they enter their 30s. The former batter emphasizes that maintaining elite fitness levels is crucial for players to perform at their peak, especially in the fast-paced world of T20 cricket.
He criticizes Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav for not prioritizing fitness to the same extent as Kohli. Manjrekar argues that their lack of extreme fitness has made their lives more challenging, as they may have suffered from physical decline as they aged. He believes that Suryakumar, in particular, has experienced a sudden drop in form, which he attributes to declining fitness levels.
Manjrekar highlights the fascinating story of Suryakumar's decline, noting that he and Jos Buttler once dominated T20 batting. However, their consistent brilliance was followed by a period of failure. The former India batter speculates that age and fitness may be affecting Suryakumar's hand-eye coordination, especially for his signature unconventional shots behind square. He suggests that improving fitness could be the key to getting Suryakumar back on track.
In Manjrekar's view, the importance of fitness in cricket cannot be overstated, especially for batters who want to maintain their performance as they age. He advocates for a more extreme approach to fitness, similar to Kohli's, to ensure that players can compete at the highest level throughout their careers. This perspective raises questions about the role of fitness in cricket and the potential consequences of neglecting it.
