Who are the five fittest cricketers on the planet?
Going to the gym as a cricketer is very much compulsory in the modern era. The training and physical demands of the game are at an all-time high and therefore only the fittest and strongest cricketers in the world can prosper.
Diet and mental health are two supplementary points that are also included in this. Both have to be right, along with the body shape, in order for athletes to be performing at their best.
There are certain benchmarks that must be passed by a cricketer in regards to their fitness. Some exceed this mark substantially, which more often than not has a positive impact on their runs scored and wickets taken and trophies won.
So, who are the top 5 fittest cricketers currently in the game?
5. Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada has an estimated score on the Yo-Yo test of 19.2 and therefore is the fifth fittest cricketer in the world. The South African fast bowler is clearly very athletic and strong, with lean muscle mass and a good frame. His height is 1.91 meters and weighs close to 80 kilograms.
Being a fast bowler means that Rabada’s frame is almost perfect for him because he needs to do a lot of bowling and doesn’t need excess muscle mass. Rabada has taken over 200 Test match wickets and over 100 ODI wickets. He has taken over the baton from Dale Steyn beautifully, in regards to the fact that he is now leading the South African bowling attack.
Kagiso Rabada is number five on our list of “Top 5 fittest cricketers in the world.”
4. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli is number four on this list. His Yo-Yo test score is estimated to be close to 19.5, having set the benchmark for the Indian Cricket Team in the past. As a result of his fitness regime, the minimum Yo-Yo test score has increased to 17 for anyone that wants to play for India.
Kohli’s height is 1.75 meters and his weight is around 70 kilograms. He needs to stay fit because he is very active between the wickets and often turns singles into doubles because he is quick. He is the only batsman in international cricket to average above 50 in all-three formats of the game. One of the greatest players in the modern era.
Virat Kohli is number four on our list of “Top 5 fittest cricketers in the world.”
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3. Manish Pandey
Coming in at number three is batsman Manish Pandey, who has the highest Yo-Yo test score for any Indian Cricketer. Pandey’s score is estimated to be close to 19.6, being just ahead of Virat Kohli. Pandey is a very athletic fielder and therefore his speed allows him to take stunning catches.
Pandey is 1.73 meters in height and weighs close to 68 kilograms. Despite being relatively short in stature, he is acrobatic in the field and being fit allows him to move in such a way. He top-scored in the 2014 IPL final to help KKR win their second title and is a consistent player in the T20 league.
Manish Pandey is number three on our list of “Top 5 fittest cricketers in the world.”
2. Jonny Bairstow
In second place is England’s Jonny Bairstow. The Yorkshireman has an estimated Yo-Yo test score of 21.8. This is a fabulous score and dwarfs his teammates and the cricketers below on this list. Bairstow is known for being very fit behind the stumps and this has been reflected in his agility when keeping on difficult pitches in the subcontinent or when there is lavish movement in England.
Bairstow is thought to perform a routine of burpees, sprints and squats in the gym in order to help his wicket keeping skills. This is because the job requires a lot of stamina due to the gloveman being involved in every ball of the game. His training seems to have paid off because he played a huge part in England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup triumph, scoring 532 runs in the tournament. Bairstow is physically a very strong cricketer, as a result of having lean muscle mass.
Jonny Bairstow is number two on our list of “Top 5 fittest cricketers in the world.”
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1. Shan Masood
In first place is Shan Masood, from Pakistan. The opening batsmen is thought to have a whopping Yo-Yo test score of 22.1, which is the highest by any cricketer in the world. Masood is very lean and tall and therefore he can cover many sprints easily, without wasting too much energy.
Masood is 1.78 meters in height and weighs close to 70 kilograms. He took his gym very seriously when he was in his teens and that seems to have contributed to his excellent fitness. One of his favourite exercises is the deadlift. He scored a superb century against England at Old Trafford in 2020.
Shan Masood is number one on our list of “Top 5 fittest cricketers in the world.”
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