New Delhi: Indian captain Rohit Sharma has expressed hope for a fully fit squad ahead of India’s upcoming five-match Test series against England, beginning June 20 in Leeds.
Speaking on the Beyond23 Cricket Podcast, Rohit emphasized the importance of managing player fitness during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. “We need some of these guys to be 100 per cent fit. We just have to make sure they come out of the IPL really well,” he said.
He pointed out the challenging nature of the IPL, despite its shorter format. “You play today, you travel tomorrow, and then you play again. That’s the tough part,” he noted, highlighting the toll that constant travel and tight scheduling can take on players.
Rohit especially stressed the need for key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami to remain injury-free, suggesting their fitness could be pivotal to India’s success in English conditions. “If we have a fully fit team going to England, we’ll have a great series there,” he added.
India’s last Test series win in England dates back to 2007 under Rahul Dravid, with the most recent series in 2022 ending in a 2-2 draw after the fifth Test was rescheduled.
Rohit, who has been India’s top scorer in the World Test Championship (WTC) with 2,716 runs in 40 matches at an average of 41.15, acknowledged the increasing demands of international cricket. “The kind of cricket these guys are playing these days — it’s going to be a good challenge for us,” he remarked.