Daryll Cullinan calls Rohit Sharma too fat for Australia series

India is gearing up for a crucial Test match against Australia amidst discussions surrounding the fitness of their captain, Rohit Sharma. The former South African cricketer Daryll Cullinan expressed concerns about Sharma's physical state, suggesting he may not be well-suited for the demanding nature of a five-match Test series. Cullinan highlighted the differences in performance between Sharma and fellow Indian batsman Virat Kohli, asserting that Sharma is typically stronger on home turf but may falter under pressure against stronger teams. As the series stands at 1-1, India faces mounting pressure to improve their batting performance, particularly in first innings situations where they have struggled significantly. Their track record has not been encouraging, with a notable lack of substantial scores from key players, including Sharma, during recent matches. This scrutiny of Sharma comes as India has been reminded of their poor first innings performances dating back to tests against Bangladesh. It is imperative for the entire batting group to focus on achieving higher totals early in matches in order to set a strong foundation and regain confidence. Shubman Gill, one of India's consistent performers recently, emphasized the team's collective goal of posting a significant first-innings score as a critical factor for success in the Brisbane Test.