Ex India S&C coach says Rohit Sharma is a 'ticking bomb' without strength work, defends star from lazy tag

Desai cites 2017 hip injury and ongoing weakness

Rohit Sharma's fitness continues to be debated as the 39-year-old former India captain eyes a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup to be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Former India strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai has pushed back against criticism that the batter is lazy and does not train.

Speaking on a podcast with Prashant Desai, Soham said the perception ignores serious injury history. "So, people say this Rohit is lazy, mota hai (he’s fat), training nahi karta hai (doesn’t train). People need to understand this: Rohit Sharma had a career-threatening injury around his hip in 2017 – Champions Trophy jab hum log hare the Pakistan ke samne final, wo wali mein (during the Champions Trophy 2017). So he has got surgeries in his hamstring and his hip flexor and all that," Soham said.

Desai said the hip remains a weak spot and that consistent strength work is non-negotiable for Sharma. "Around his hip is his weak spot. If he doesn’t train for a minimum of two strength sessions in a week, he is a red flag, he is a ticking bomb. And that is the scenario for the last seven to eight years. So if he was not working hard, if he was lazy, he wouldn’t have lasted till today," Soham said.

Pamment backs Rohit and Kohli for 2027

Former New Zealand assistant coach James Pamment, who spent eight years as Mumbai Indians fielding coach working with Rohit during the franchise’s IPL title wins in 2019 and 2020, also backed senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli for the 2027 World Cup.

"Well, I think with all top players, when the time is coming towards the end of the career, it's a conversation that is always had with them. Those guys have earned the right to make the decision on when they do want to move away. If they have decided that the ODI World Cup in South Africa is a pinnacle event that they want to be at, then they should be supported to be there. Then it becomes about performance and contribution to the group," Pamment said.

On Kohli, Pamment added: "I've never worked closely with Virat. I've watched him, obviously, very closely when I've been with the New Zealand team or with Mumbai Indians. I've watched him and to me, he's just the ultimate professional. So he's the sort of guy that I would want in my environment the whole time because he's the ultimate professional."

Upcoming New Zealand series in focus

Rohit and Kohli are set to be seen in action in the five-match ODI series against New Zealand starting November 4, a key build-up ahead of the veterans' World Cup ambitions. India last won an ODI series in New Zealand during the 2018-19 season.