In response to recent claims regarding the Indian captain’s fitness, former captain Sunil Gavaskar has publicly defended Rohit Sharma. Gavaskar responded to Shama Mohamed, the national spokesperson for the Congress, who caused a great deal of controversy by referring to Rohit as “fat for a sportsperson.” The great batter made the observation that the main criterion for selection should be cricketing skill rather than body size.
Shama Mohamed questioned whether the Indian captain’s body was suitable for a professional athlete in a social media post that ignited the controversy about Rohit Sharma’s fitness. Both fans and experts had differing opinions about the message, which swiftly went viral. Gavaskar disagreed, arguing that players should be evaluated on their performance rather than their appearance and that cricket is not a modeling sport.
“I’ve always advised going to a modeling competition and selecting all the models if you’re looking for exclusively slender men. That’s not the point. It’s about your cricket skills. We discussed Sarfaraz Khan, who was long demonized for being overweight. What’s wrong, though, if he scores 150 for India in a Test match and then goes on to score two or three more scores of fifty or more? India Today cited Gavaskar as stating.
Size, in my opinion, is irrelevant: Sunil Gavaskar
In addition, the former Indian legend stated that mental toughness and stamina are significantly more important in cricket than physical attributes. Additionally, Sunil Gavaskar cited the case of Indian hitter Sarfaraz Khan, who was forced to wait for his international debut because of fitness concerns. However, finally given the opportunity to play at his best, the right-handed hitter made an impression on many.
“I don’t believe that size matters. The most crucial factor is your mental toughness, or if you can persevere. “Bat well, bat long, and score runs,” he continued.
One of the most reliable hitters in international cricket, however, is still the Indian captain. He is an essential member of the Indian team because of his capacity to deliver reliable starts and anchor innings on challenging wickets. The Men in Blue made it to the 2023 ODI World Cup final under his captaincy, however they lost against Australia. But under Rohit, the team was able to win the T20 World Cup in 2024.
The seasoned hitter now has another chance to guide the team to yet another ICC championship as the Champions Trophy 2025 draws to a close. During the league stage, his tournament performances have been crucial.
India
