Former South African opener Herschelle Gibbs has joined the chorus, questioning Rohit Sharma’s fitness levels, albeit without directly naming the Indian captain. In an exclusive chat with InsideSport, Gibbs emphasised that players must maintain peak fitness to contribute effectively in all aspects of the game. While being adamant about the importance of fitness, Gibbs pointed out that television viewers can easily spot players who are “carrying a little bit extra.”
Daryll Cullinan’s scathing attack on Rohit Sharma
In an exclusive earlier interview with InsideSport, Cullinan didn’t mince words in critiquing Indian captain Rohit Sharma, calling him “overweight” and unfit for the rigours of a five-match Test series. Cullinan compared Rohit’s physical condition to that of Virat Kohli, claiming the latter’s superior fitness exemplified the level required at the international stage.
“Rohit’s not in good physical condition. He’s overweight and not a long-term cricketer anymore. Test cricket is a hard grind, and he doesn’t seem ready for it,” Cullinan stated.
The criticism came amid a challenging phase for Rohit, whose form has plummeted with a mere 152 runs in his last 13 Test innings at an average of 11.69. Adding to the pressure, India have failed to win their last five Tests under his leadership, garnering huge questions marks about his contributions.
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Herschelle Gibbs subtly agrees on Rohit Sharma’s concerns
While speaking to InsideSport, Herschelle Gibbs claimed on the sheer fitness levels in modern-day cricket. He asserted that people nowadays can easily see cricketers and their fitness conditions when quizzed about Rohit Sharma. Gibbs, who played the IPL 2013 season alongside Rohit at the Mumbai Indians (MI), said:
“Look, it’s up to the individual. I was only a batter. Rohit also doesn’t bowl. It is up to the individual for me with regards to how much they want to contribute, not only in their own specific way and skill—if you are a bowler or a batter. Your duty is still to be fit and to try make a contribution in the field. I don’t need to mention any names. You can see everything on TV. Those are the guys who are unfit, carrying a little bit extra. The whole world is there to see. But the mindset should be, especially with the T20 cricket and ICC Champions Trophy coming up, how much do you want to contribute and make a difference for your team?”
Rohit Sharma’s Test stats since IND vs BAN series
| Category | Stats |
| Matches | 7 |
| Innings | 13 |
| Runs | 152 |
| HS | 52 |
| Average | 11.69 |
| SR | 62.8 |
| 100 | 0 |
| 50 | 1 |
| Ducks | 1 |
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