Suryakumar Yadav explains how Rishabh Pant's chef is helping Sarfaraz Khan maintain his fitness ahead of India-Australia Tests

India batter Sarfaraz Khan is in the form of his life in the longest format. He hit an unbeaten 222 for Mumbai against Rest of India during the Irani Cup contest earlier in October, and much recently, Sarfaraz scored a magnificent century against New Zealand in the first Test in Bengaluru.

Suryakumar Yadav explains how Sarfaraz Khan is working on his fitness

Despite his batting exploits, time and again, the 26-year-old has been often criticised for his lack of fitness, but according to Suryakumar Yadav, Sarfaraz has been working with India’s strength and conditioning coach to improve his fitness levels. Sarfaraz has also been taking help from Rishabh Pant’s chef.

“Sarfaraz is working on his fitness with the Indian team strength and conditioning coach and Rishabh (Pant) has provided him with a chef who is taking care of his food. The intent is that by the time he reaches Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, his body is in a better shape. Fitness is important in this sport as he gets older, body will change. He is working hard now, he will be fine in future,” Suryakumar told the Indian Express.

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Suryakumar then recalled how motivated Sarfaraz is and that he never skips practice sessions. “His body type might make him look fat but if you ask him to bat 450 balls, score double hundred, triple hundred, daddy hundred, he has that skill. I think the team has a similar demand to make big hundreds, play game changing knocks… I have never seen him skipping practice even on match day. If there is a game, he will get up at 5 am, bat for one hour near his home and then join the team bus. After the game he will go to the nearby ground and bat again," added SKY.

Sunil Gavaskar backed Sarfaraz Khan last year

Sunil Gavaskar had backed Sarfaraz last year and had slammed those who had fat-shamed the right-handed batter.

“If you are looking for only slim and trim guys, then might as well go to a fashion show and find some other models and give a bat and ball in their hands and then improve them. That’s not the way cricket goes,” Gavaskar had told India Today. “You have cricketers in all shapes and sizes. Don’t go by the size, go by the scores or wickets. He is not staying off the field when he scores a hundred. He is back on the field again. So, all that tells you is that the man is fit,” he had added.

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India were dismissed for 46 in their first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru, but Sarfaraz led a spirited comeback with a knock of 150 from 195 deliveries that consisted of 18 fours and three sixes. His knock, however, went in vain as India suffered an eight-wicket loss in the Garden City, with the Black Caps chasing down a target of 107 in 27.4 overs.

The second Test will begin from 24 October and will take place in Pune, where India will look to level the three-match series 1-1.