Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has strongly defended current skipper Rohit Sharma against criticisms regarding his fitness. Responding to remarks from Congress party spokesperson Shama Mohamed, who labelled Sharma as “fat for a sportsperson,” the Indian batting legend emphasised that cricketing skill outweighs physical appearance.

“I have always said, if you want only slim guys, then you should go to a modelling competition and pick all the models. It’s not about that,” Gavaskar said, underscoring that cricketing prowess is paramount. 

He highlighted that mental strength and the ability to perform on the field are what truly matter in the sport.

“It’s about how well you can play cricket. We talked about Sarfaraz Khan –he was vilified for a long time because he was on the heavier side. But if he scores 150 for India in a Test match and follows it up with another two or three fifty-plus scores, then what’s the issue? I don’t think size has anything to do with it. It’s your mental strength – whether you can last the distance, that’s the most important thing. Bat well, bat for long, and score runs,” he added.

The controversy began when Mohamed criticised Sharma’s physique and leadership.

“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!” wrote Shama in her social media post that has now been deleted following significant backlash.

In another post, she compared Rohit to other Indian captains.

“What is so world-class about him when compared to his predecessors? He is a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the captain of India.”

In response, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) defended the Indian skipper, criticising the remarks as demoralising, especially during an important tournament. Sharma, who is set to turn 38, recently retired from Twenty20 international cricket after leading India to a World Cup victory.

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh also defended Sharma, emphasising that he has served the country and passed rigorous fitness tests to be part of the national team.

As India prepares to face Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday, Gavaskar’s remarks highlight the importance of focusing on a player’s performance and mental resilience over physical appearance.

(Source: India Today)