Suryakumar Yadav defends Rohit Sharma's fitness amid harsh criticism: 'He's at the top...'

Team India, led by captain Rohit Sharma, is set to face New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final on March 9. The Indian team has maintained an undefeated record in the tournament and is one victory away from securing consecutive ICC trophies, following their T20 World Cup triumph in 2024.

Despite his undeniable success as a leader, Rohit Sharma has often been subjected to criticism regarding his fitness. The debate recently escalated when a political leader from Indian National Congress questioned his fitness, sparking fresh controversy.

In a post on X, Congress' Shama Mohamed had said that Rohit was “fat” for a sportsman, while adding that he needs to “lose weight.”

However, amid the noise, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has come forward in defense of Rohit, hailing his contributions and dismissing concerns over his fitness.

Addressing the debate, Suryakumar Yadav heaped praise on Rohit Sharma’s leadership and commitment, emphasizing that his captaincy record speaks for itself.

“If you see him as a captain, in the last four years he has taken the team to the finals of four ICC trophies, so it is a big thing. If a person is playing cricket for 15-20 years, it is a big thing. I know how important fitness is for him. I have seen him closely, he works very hard – according to me, he is at the top & I wish him all the best for the finals,” Suryakumar stated.

With Rohit at the helm, India has consistently been a force to reckon with in major ICC events, breaking their 11-year title drought with the T20 World Cup triumph last year.

Rohit Sharma eyes redemption

As India prepare for the ultimate showdown against New Zealand, Rohit Sharma has a golden opportunity to further cement his legacy. The Men in Blue have enjoyed a flawless campaign, cruising through the group stage unbeaten before dismantling Australia in the semi-final.

For Rohit, this final presents a shot at redemption after India's last ICC in the ODI World Cup at home, where the side faced a disappointing defeat to Australia. With just one step away from glory, Team India will be eager to bury the ghost of the past and add a second ICC title in as many years.

ICC Champions Trophy , ICC Champions Trophy Schedule , and Champions Trophy 2025 Points Table – stay ahead with real-time match updates, team standings, and insights. Check live cricket score , player stats, and ICC rankings of top players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli . Get expert analysis, match previews, and in-depth coverage of ICC CT 2025, IPL 2025 Schedule and IPL 2025, all on HT Crickit, powered by Hindustan Times – your trusted source for cricket news along with India vs New Zealand Live Score. .freemium-card h4{color:#fff; padding-bottom:20px;} .freemium-card .freemium-content .subcTxt{padding-bottom:16px; color:#fff;} .freemium-card .freemium-content{width: auto; max-width: inherit;} .freemium-card .freemium-content .subcTxt{max-width:inherit; font-size:18px; padding-top:0; line-height:24px} .freemium-card .btnSubc{margin} .freemium-card .btnSubc a{background:#000; color:#fff; min-width:auto; padding:5px 15px; border-radius:6px; font-size:16px; line-height:22px; font-weight:700;} .freemium-card{height:285px} @media (max-width: 767px) { .freemium-card h4{font-size:28px} .freemium-card .freemium-content{max-width:360px; padding: 20px;} .freemium-card{height:303px; background-position: 100% 0; } }