Soham Desai: Rohit Sharma's 2017 hip injury left him 'a ticking bomb'
Former India strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai told a podcast with Prashant Desai on October 26, 2026, that Rohit Sharma suffered a career‑threatening injury around his hip in 2017 and underwent surgeries on his hamstring and hip flexor that left the area vulnerable.
Rohit’s fitness and training have been frequent topics of discussion among fans and critics, and Soham’s account sought to explain persistent concerns about his physique and preparation. Soham said the surgeries followed the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan and that the operations affected Rohit’s hip region. He described the work required to keep Rohit available for international cricket and framed the fitness regime as essential rather than optional.
“So people say this Rohit is lazy, mota hai (that he’s fat), training nahi karta hai (that he doesn’t train). People need to understand this: that 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 (after the Champions Trophy final against Pakistan). So he has got surgeries in his hamstring and his hip flexor and all that,” Soham said.
Soham cautioned that the hip remained Rohit’s weak area and set out the minimum work he requires to manage the risk. “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.
“Forget about scoring runs, leading in the IPL, playing twelve months, all formats. For the last seven-eight years, so it has been non-negotiable. Either he has to do that or he has to work in a particular manner on the ground. Without those two, he cannot last and this is not a secret,” he added.
Despite those fitness challenges, Rohit has continued to score across formats since making his international debut in 2007. In India’s recent three‑match ODI series against the West Indies he made 32, 101 and 92, finishing the series with 225 runs.
Rohit is expected to return to action alongside Virat Kohli in India’s five‑match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning on November 4, and the series will provide another opportunity for the veteran opener to build on his recent form as India continue preparing for the 2027 ODI World Cup. As the source notes, India are aiming for a record‑extending third Men’s ODI World Cup title in 2027 and Rohit’s fitness, experience and ability to deliver at the top of the order are cited as factors in that campaign.
