Former South African batter Daryll Cullinan has questioned Indian skipper Rohit Sharma’s fitness ahead of the third Border-Gavaskar Test against Australia. Cullinan feels Rohit is overweight and his fitness is not up to the mark for the red-ball version of the game.
The former Proteas right-hander compared Rohit’s fitness with Virat Kohli and said there is a contrasting fitness between the two veterans.
Rohit is under the pump after India suffered a huge loss of 10 wickets in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide against the Aussies. The Indian captain could not lead from the front as he returned with scores of 3 and 6 while batting at number six. Furthermore, many cricket experts have also questioned his defensive captaincy.
“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 to play in a four or a five-match Test series,” Cullinan told InsideSport.
Rohit also managed only 91 runs in three Test matches against New Zealand and scored only 42 runs in two Test matches against Bangladesh despite playing in the home conditions. The right-hander has managed a solitary fifty in the last six Test matches and he hasn’t been at his best.
Meanwhile, KL Rahul returned with scores of 26 and 77 in the first Test against Australia and added 201 runs with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the opening alliance in the second innings. Ergo, Rohit decided to demote himself in the middle order.
The third Test match between India and Australia will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14.
