'Rohit Sharma's overweight; look at Virat Kohli': Former South Africa cricketer launches attack on India captain

Ex-Proteas batter calls India captain Rohit Sharma 'overweight' and a 'flat track bully'. (Photo: PTI)

Former South Africa cricketer Daryll Cullinan has launched a disparaging attack on Team India captain Rohit Sharma calling him 'overweight' and a 'flat track bully'. Cullinan, who's played for South Africa is known for his gifted batting skills against spin and pace - reckons that Rohit is not fit like an international cricketer should be which makes him a baggage on the entire team. There's no hiding that Rohit is struggling with his form both as a captain and batter but where on the one hand the world is supporting him to make a comeback, Cullinan showed no mercy in his statements.

Recently, India lost their first home Test series in 12 years. In total, India have now lost four Tests under Rohit's captaincy - three against New Zealand and one against Australia in Adelaide. The situation looks more worse for Rohit as his total runs in the last six Tests for India are 142 runs which makes his average of 11.83. Commenting on Rohit's struggles, Cullinan was blunt, stating that the Indian captain is not physically fit to compete at the highest level.

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"You look at Rohit, and you look at Virat [Kohli]. Look at their physical condition. Rohit's overweight. He is not a long-term cricketer anymore. What I'm saying is that the hard grind of Test cricket – 4-5 Test matches – Rohit's not in good physical condition. Look at Virat, and a lot of these other Indian players. I'll say it again. Rohit's best at home but I just wonder if it's not going to backfire on India because they went in with [pretty much] the same team in the 2nd Test," Cullinan told InsideSport.

Rohit's a flat-track bully: Cullinan

Highlighting a significant disparity in Rohit's performances at home and abroad, Cullinan suggested that the 37-year-old excels only in Indian conditions. Of the 65 Tests Rohit has played, 29 have been overseas, where he has scored 1,622 runs at an average of 32.44, with a highest score of 127 against England at The Oval.

In ODIs, the contrast is similar: out of his 10,866 career runs, only 3,703 have come outside India. While he has played fewer matches overseas—115 compared to 150 at home—his overseas average of 39.91 further supports Cullinan's observation.

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"I think Rohit is a flat-track bully. Let's look at his record outside of India. Every time he's been to South Africa, you clearly get the feeling that he doesn't like the short ball. The fact that he's now back in the middle order… he's an opener. He must come and lead from the front, especially after that convincing victory under Bumrah's leadership," added Cullinan, who played 70 Tests and 138 ODIs for the Proteas.

Cullinan highlighted Rohit's concerning record in South Africa, where he has managed just 256 runs in 14 ODIs and 183 runs in 6 Tests—figures that can question his ability outside home. Notably, one of Rohit's two Test centuries outside India was scored against the West Indies in Roseau last year. However, he is yet to score a Test century in both Australia and New Zealand.