Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma has opened up about his midnight cravings during Test matches, revealing that the pressure of playing the longest format would often leave him nervous and unable to sleep.
Rohit, who played 67 Tests for India between 2013 and 2024, shared details about his comfort food and his experience of dealing with nervousness during the format on his television show, Family Full House with Rohit Sharma.
Rohit Sharma Opens Up About Test Match Nervousness
Rohit retired from Test cricket last year after scoring 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57. His Test career included 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries, with a highest score of 212.
Although Test cricket was his favourite format, Rohit said the demands of the longest format often made him nervous. He recalled that the nervousness would sometimes keep him awake through the night.
Speaking about his midnight cravings, Rohit said, “Haan, hoti toh hai. Main jhooth nahi bolunga, lekin jab bhi main Test match khelta tha, andar bahut nervousness hoti thi. Toh Test match ke time khaas karke, kyunki yeh mera favourite format tha, Test match khelna (Yes, those cravings used to happen. I would not lie. When I would play Tests, I would feel nervous. It was my favourite format).”
Why Test Matches Kept Rohit Awake At Night
Rohit explained that Test cricket came with its own set of challenges, despite the fact that every format of the game presents difficulties for players.
Elaborating on how the pressure affected his sleep, he shared, “Kyunki Test match khelna aasaan format nahi hai. Koi bhi format aasaan nahi hota, lekin Test match ke apne alag-alag challenges hote the. Toh Test match ke liye main hamesha nervous rehta tha aur nervousness mein mujhe neend nahi aati thi, toh raat bhar main jaaga rehta tha (Since Test cricket is not an easy format, so I would always be nervous, and due to that, I would struggle to sleep at night. So I would stay awake at night).”
Rohit Sharma Reveals His Comfort Food
With those sleepless nights often leading to late-night hunger, Rohit said he would keep his favourite comfort food with him during matches.
Revealing what he would eat, he said, “Toh aap jaage rehte ho toh kuch na kuch khaane ka mann karta tha. Toh main hamesha mere saath mera comfort food rakhta tha, jo meri mummy hamesha bana ke deti thi, woh tha banana wafers (When you stay awake, then you feel like eating something. So I would keep my comfort food with me, which my mother used to make for me, banana wafers).”
His Mother Used To Bake The Banana Wafers
Rohit also revealed that the banana wafers prepared by his mother were not deep-fried. Instead, she used a baking method to prepare the snack, which he would carry with him during matches.
He added, “Woh fried nahi hota tha. Meri mummy ke kuch tareeke the, woh bake karti thi usko aur woh main hamesha apne saath leke chalta tha. Toh kabhi bhi mann karta tha toh usse kha leta tha (The snack was not fried, my mother would bake them, and I would keep them with me always, having them whenever I wanted).”
Rohit Sharma's Television Show
Rohit shared these details on Family Full House with Rohit Sharma. The show is set to premiere on Sony Entertainment Television from Saturday.
[With ANI inputs]
