It’s quite clear that being a 2-time T20 World Cup and 5-time IPL winner doesn’t shield any player from criticism. Rohit Sharma getting fat-shamed by a retired cricketer was not on many bingo cards this year. Former Proteas cricketer Daryll Cullinan has called out Rohit Sharma for poor match fitness, tagging the Indian Test team captain as “overweight”:
“Look at Rohit, then at Virat. Notice the difference in their physical condition. Rohit is overweight, and not a long-term cricketer anymore. Rohit is not in a good physical condition for the hard grind of a four or a five-match Test series,” Cullinan argued while commenting on Sharma’s current physical condition.
I Don’t Like Rohit in the Middle Order – Cullinan Blows Hot
Cullinan didn’t stop at fat-shaming Rohit Sharma; he went a step further by blasting the decision for him to play in the middle order:
“(I do not like) the fact that he’s in the middle-order now. He is an opener. He must come and lead from the front,” Cullinan said.
Sharma’s absence from the Perth Test contributed majorly to him dropping into a middle-order position. The successful opening pair of KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal forced Team India’s hand to place Sharma as a middle-order batsman. Sharma decided to not tweak their big-hitting combination, opting to demote himself to No.6 for the first time in 6 years.
Why Did Rohit Sharma Bat in the Middle Order?
Poor Test form
Rohit’s Test form has dwindled in recent months, sparking calls for his retirement from the format by some sets of fans. 19 runs in two Test matches vs Australia isn’t a record to gloat over, and Sharma currently agrees with fans over his poor showing by choosing to bat in the middle order.
Family events
Sharma played no part in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024/25 in Perth by deciding to remain in India for some family activities. The Test captain welcomed his son during the build-up to BGT 2024/25 and had to stay out of the Perth encounter.
His absence during the Perth Test created a gap filled by KL Rahul. However, Sharma wasn’t missed as Rahul stepped up with a great performance to trigger the captain’s demotion to middle-order batting.
Gavaskar Believes Sharma Should Return to the Top Order
Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes it is time for captain Sharma to retain his role as a top-order batter:
“He should return to his regular spot. We should remember why Rahul had opened. He did that because Rohit Sharma was not available for the first Test,” Gavaskar said during an interview.
Rahul didn’t score as the team hoped during their Brisbane Test vs Australia, and Gavaskar believes it is the perfect time for Sharma to return in an opening role:
“Now that he [Rahul] couldn’t score this Test, I feel Rahul should go back to No. 5 or No.6, and Rohit Sharma should open. If Rohit scores quickly in the beginning, then he can score a big century also later,” Gavaskar added.
Cullinan Tags Sharma a “Flat-Track Bully”
Daryl continued with his scathing criticism of Rohit Sharma, by tagging the current Test skipper a “flat-track bully”:
“I will say it again. Rohit’s best at home but I just wonder if it is not going to backfire India, because they were not the same team in the second Test. I think Rohit is a flat-track bully. Let’s look at record outside India. Every time he has been to South Africa, I’ve clearly got the feeling that he does not like the short ball.”
Rohit Sharma’s Former Teammate Takes Aim with His “Overweight” Comment
Rohit’s dwindling form in Test cricket has seen him receive widespread criticism from former cricketers and teammates.
Former Mumbai Indians cricketer Herschelle Gibbs also took advantage of Cullinan’s comments to take aim at Sharma. Gibbs is an ex-teammate of the under-fire batter and had this to say:
“I don’t need to mention any names. You can see everything on TV. Those guys that are unfit and carrying a little bit extra, I mean, the whole world is there to see. The mindset should be, especially with a lot of T20 cricket and obviously with the Champions Trophy coming up, how much you want to contribute and make a difference for your team,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs believes Sharma and his teammates have not done enough to make a difference for his team in recent matches:
“I think it’s up to the individual. I was only a batter. Rohit doesn’t bowl. It’s up to the individual for me with regards to how much they want to contribute, not only in their own specific skill. If you’ a bowler or a batter, your duty is still to be fit and to try and make a contribution in the field,” Gibbs added.
