IND vs AUS Live Score: ‘Hitman’ loves playing in Australia
Former Indian cricketer and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar spoke about Rohit Sharma’s remarkable physical transformation over the last 12 weeks ahead of India’s tour to Australia, with the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup in mind, describing him as a “mean machine.”
During the Indian team’s photoshoot for the ODI series, one of the most striking observations was how slimmer and fitter Rohit looked. Having faced questions about his fitness even during India’s successes in the 2023 ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup 2024, and the ICC Champions Trophy, Rohit devoted significant effort to improving his conditioning, as reflected in his social media posts and updates from close friends documenting his transformation.
Speaking on JioStar, Nayar explained that 12 weeks before the Australia tour, the plan for Rohit’s fitness was “to do something different,” focusing more on growth than maintenance.
“Initially, we realised that there were 12 weeks before the Australia series, so the thought process was to do something different. Since we had time on our hands, it wasn’t just about maintaining; it was about growth. Growth in terms of his physical structure, movement, and how he viewed himself when he looked in the mirror. We wanted him to feel fitter, faster, and more agile on the field and with the bat. There had been a lot of talk about his weight after a few pictures surfaced, so it was about changing that narrative, to be healthier, faster, and stronger. It has been 12 weeks of hard work and perseverance, not just in training but also with his diet and habits. He’s made a lot of sacrifices, and that has transformed him into, if I may say so, a mean machine,” he said.
Nayar added that the preparation plan prioritised fitness, with the first seven weeks focused solely on training, movement, agility, and weight loss, while the remaining five weeks integrated skill work and match readiness.
“The skill work was not a priority early on. The remaining five weeks focused on reintroducing skill work and blending it with match-readiness. When you lose weight, the way you move and the power you generate change, so the idea was to adapt to that new rhythm. The last five weeks were all about integrating skill, mindset, and fitness to be match-ready,” he explained.
On Rohit’s immediate goals, Nayar said: “Every time he wears the India jersey, it’s about scoring runs and contributing to wins, and that has never changed for him. He will see this series as another opportunity to go out there, make an impact, and do what he has done so successfully over the years. Whether he is captain or not, Rohit Sharma will always play with the same intent, to win games for India and to continue being Rohit Sharma.”
The ‘Hitman’ thrives in Australia, having scored 1,328 runs in 30 ODIs at an average of 53.12, with a strike rate over 90, including five centuries and four fifties, and a highest score of 171*. His last five innings against Australia read: 30, 81, 0, 47, 28, while his last five innings in Australia are: 41, 99, 133, 43, and 9.
