Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Rohit Sharma Turned World Cup Snub Into Fitness Motivation
Rohit Sharma was not selected for India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup team.
At that time, his friend Abhishek Nayar said Sharma did not focus heavily on gym training.
Sharma believed his batting skills would help him score runs.
Then a television channel showed a picture of Sharma and pointed to his stomach.
Nayar said Sharma was hurt by the picture.
The image motivated Sharma to work harder on his fitness.
Nayar said Sharma eventually developed four-pack abs.
He shared the story on a Doordarshan cricket program.
Abhishek Nayar said Rohit Sharma was left out of India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup squad.
Nayar said Sharma previously relied more on batting skill than intensive gym training.
A news channel reportedly showed Sharma’s photograph with a circle and arrow around his belly.
Nayar said the image stayed with Sharma and became a turning point in his fitness efforts.
The account appeared on Doordarshan’s The Great Indian Cricket Show and was later released in its Nostalgia Factory series.
- Who
- Rohit Sharma and his friend Abhishek Nayar.
- What
- Nayar described how Sharma used his 2011 World Cup selection setback and a television graphic as motivation to improve his fitness.
- When
- The fitness-related incident occurred in 2011; Nayar’s account was recently featured in a released clip.
- Where
- The account was shared on Doordarshan’s The Great Indian Cricket Show.
- Why
- Sharma was reportedly motivated after a television channel highlighted his belly and after he was left out of the 2011 World Cup squad.
- Player
- Rohit Sharma
- Friend and source
- Abhishek Nayar
- Selection setback
- Sharma was not selected for India’s 2011 Cricket World Cup side.
- Television incident
- A news channel showed Sharma’s photograph with a circle and arrow around his belly.
- Program
- The Great Indian Cricket Show
- Broadcaster
- Doordarshan
- Series
- Nostalgia Factory