IND vs NZ: Rohit Sharma turns heads with unrecognisable look, smashes lofted six in training
Rohit Sharma came into limelight after looking unrecognizable during training ahead of the IND-NZ clash. The former India skipper showed sharp timing and power as he smashed a towering six in the nets.
India’s star batsman Rohit Sharma was seen putting in effort ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand scheduled for this weekend. He appeared to have lost some weight knowing that he will be participating in 18 ODIs this year, both domestically and abroad. But he is not taking any risks as there is a five-month gap between the New Zealand series and the series against Afghanistan in June. He also appeared at Nita Ambani’s event but was also seen working hard in Mumbai.
There was something noticeably different about him. Besides losing weight, he also wore a new helmet after winning the series against South Africa. He thrilled his fans by hitting a six and sent them into a frenzy. Some expressed their disbelief at how much weight Rohit lost. He is determined to play in the 2027 World Cup and is making efforts to make it happen.
All about Rohit Sharma from yesterday’s net session. pic.twitter.com/x2zLj6TrND
— (@rushiii_12) January 7, 2026
Rohit Sharma is barely recognizable in this clip. Unreal fitness. pic.twitter.com/mFCGLRacK8
— (@LoyalSachinFan) January 6, 2026
Rohit secured the top spot in the ICC ODI rankings for the first time in his career and became India’s third highest run-scorer in the ODI rankings. He also became the fourth Indian cricketer to reach 20,000 runs in international cricket, reaching the milestone during his team’s third and final ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam last month.
The Hitman broke Shahid Afridi’s record for most sixes in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) in November. He broke this record during India’s first ODI against South Africa at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, hitting his 352nd six in the format. This surpassed Afridi’s previous record of 351 sixes, which stood since 2015. He has now hit 355 sixes in 279 ODIs.
Rohit finished his year with 650 runs in 14 innings at an average of 50.00 and boasted a top score of 121* with a strike rate of over 100, including two centuries and four fifties. In May, Sharma announced his retirement from Test cricket, marking the end of a celebrated chapter in his international career.
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