“NoFap”: This is how Shikhar Dhawan saves energy for matches with one-day break in between them

The concept of compromising with fitness has no place in the lives of modern-day cricketers. Taking into consideration how some of these players play around the world which includes dozens of flights throughout a year, not paying enough attention on maintaining optimum fitness levels has it in it to suffer an injury sooner rather than later.

Veteran India batter Shikhar Dhawan, who continues to be an active international cricketer in spite of being dropped from the national team, recently featured on ‘The Ranveer Show’. Asserting that he is different from the common perception about him, Dhawan put forward a thoughtful side of his personality for a change.

In addition to speaking about spirituality, Dhawan also emerged as a vocal admirer of fitness explaining how different cricketers train differently because of their body types and roles. Speaking particularly about his training routine, Dhawan revealed that his “stiff” body doesn’t allow him to be a regular with clean and jerk training exerises but he ensures to gain strength by doing other forms of training.

The 37-year old player, who is currently leading Punjab Kings in Indian Premier League 2023, also spoke about how cricketers attempt to mix-and-match training routines in order to tick all boxes such as strength, mobility, explosiveness.

“I had recently undergone an assessment at the NCA [National Cricket Academy]. I was told that my strength has increased at the cost of explosiveness. I had to make changes accordingly. Strength is of no use if I’m not able to run quickly,” Dhawan said on the The Ranveer Show.

This is how Shikhar Dhawan saves energy for matches with one-day break in between them

Situated in Bengaluru, Dhawan credited the NCA for inculcating all appropriate training activities in not just his lifestyle but also the lifestyle of thousands of cricketers in the country. For the unversed, NCA is a premier cricketing facility run by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) which acts as a breeding ground for rookie players and a rehabilitation centre for injured players.

Being asked about managing gym sessions in the middle of a busy cricket season where players are required to turn for day-long matches on consecutive or alternate days, Dhawan clarified how players don’t lift heavy weights amid a hectic season.

Despite its immense importance and benefits, weight exercises are not a primary requisite for a cricket player during a series. Hence, no player would want to exhaust himself in a gym on or before a match day only to let his performance suffer on a match day or sustain an injury due to the lack of ideal recovery.

“I am very very grateful to [the] NCA. They taught us functional training. We learnt and evolved with time. You can’t gym a lot during a season because you have to save energy and stay fresh for matches as well,” Dhawan added.

“For example, if there’s a three-day break, I can undergo one proper gym session. If there’s a two-day break, I might opt for a light gym session. If there’s a one-day break, I won’t go to the gym. I will rest. [And] Nofap [laughs].”

What is NoFap?

Although the reason behind it could vary among individuals, NoFap is simply defined as sexual abstinence. Over a decade-old community now, NoFap followers claim to have experienced a better physical and mental health through retention of semen.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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