Rohit Sharma's Fitness Journey Praised by Mumbai Indians Coach Mahela Jayawardene
Rohit Sharma's Fitness Commitment
New Delhi [India] - April 3: Mahela Jayawardene, the coach of Mumbai Indians, has commended Rohit Sharma for his dedication to improving his fitness, stating that "Rohit aimed to reach a fitness level that he felt comfortable with."
In a recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rohit Sharma delivered an impressive performance, scoring 78 runs off just 38 balls, which included six sixes and six fours. As a player now focused solely on one format for India, the 38-year-old has prioritized his fitness ahead of the IPL. It's noteworthy that his last international appearance was during the ODI against New Zealand in Indore on January 18.
Before the upcoming match against Delhi Capitals, Jayawardene highlighted Rohit's adherence to a structured fitness regimen and his consistent training during the off-season. He noted that Rohit engaged in skill development, participated in practice matches, and was actively involved from the beginning of the team's training camp, despite limited competitive play recently.
"He deserves credit for having a clear plan and vision. Some of our players joined him in this training to achieve a fitness level he was comfortable with; he recognized the need for it. Even without competitive matches, he dedicated time to skill work during the off-season. He joined us on the first day of camp, and we discussed our approach. We conducted numerous simulations and practice matches, and he was integral to all of that," Jayawardene explained.
Jayawardene expressed confidence in Rohit Sharma's abilities, noting that despite the lack of recent match experience, Rohit's extensive experience and muscle memory keep him sharp. He observed that Rohit looked in great form while practicing in the nets.
"For someone with such a long career, muscle memory plays a significant role. Players like him can react effectively in various situations, even without recent competitive play. I could tell from watching him in the nets that he was in good shape," the MI coach remarked.
Jayawardene also mentioned Rohit Sharma's impressive hand speed and strong start in IPL 2026, expressing hope that he would maintain his performance.
"His hand speed was excellent, and it was a solid beginning for him in the first game. We hope he can keep this momentum going," Jayawardene added.
Currently, the Mumbai Indians are positioned fourth in the IPL 2026 standings following their victory over KKR and will compete against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.