Rohit Sharma confirmed that he has recovered from the calf injury that cut short his tour of New Zealand earlier this year. The Indian opener said it was only a matter of clearing a fitness test before he could resume on-field duties, but then the COVID-19 lockdown ruined his plans. 

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Rohit injured his calf while playing the fifth and final T20I against the Black Caps in Mount Maunganui on 2nd February. He subsequently missed the ODIs and the Tests and was also ruled out of the later-suspended home ODI series against South Africa in March because of his rehabilitation. 

However, the 33-year-old says he has now fully recovered. 

"Before the lockdown happened, I was almost ready to play. That whole week was going to be my fitness test but that's when the lockdown happened and I had to push back everything now," Rohit told LaLiga's Facebook page on Saturday (May 23).

"Once everything opens up, I have to first go to the centre (NCA) and give my fitness test and once I pass the fitness test I will be allowed to go and resume my duties with the team."

Rohit has been away from the game even longer than some of his teammates, whom he is missing during this phase. 

"Yes, I miss my teammates, hanging around with them and having banter with them. Although as friends we are trying to stay in touch through the video calls to see what's one been up to, things like that and we manage that pretty well," he said.

"When you are playing together, almost from 365 days we are together for 300 days, we are playing, travelling together, so it's like a family. So the first thing I want to do is to catch up with all these guys and try to hit some balls as soon as I can."

Individual on-field training is something Rohit wishes to resume after being allowed to do so as per one of the MHA guidelines issued for lockdown 4.0. 

"I am assuming that those (other) places might open up a lot earlier than Mumbai, the city where I stay and which is the most infected," he said. "I feel the other guys will send me videos of catching up with each other a lot earlier than I do."

Even at his residence, Rohit has been focusing on his diet and has managed to do some running. 

"I have been very good with my diet, because it is so easy to put on weight when you are not doing anything. Although we have got a little gym over here, little running area, where you can do some running, it's about 50-100 meters, you can go (and run)."

"I have managed to get some running done, although it's not like what you generally do on the field, but it is at least something," he added. 

(Inputs from PTI)