Indian T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has strongly defended veteran cricketer Rohit Sharma after Indian National Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed criticized his fitness. In a now-deleted post on X, Shama commented on Rohit’s weight, calling him “fat for a sportsperson” and suggesting that he needed to “lose weight.” The remarks sparked backlash, with many fans and players rallying in support of the Indian captain.

Suryakumar Yadav, a close teammate of Rohit from both the Indian national team and Mumbai Indians, praised his contributions as a leader and his longevity as a cricketer.

“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 playi ng 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,” said Suryakumar Yadav, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

ALSO READ: India vs New Zealand Set For Final Showdown On the Same Pitch As Indo-Pak Clash

While Suryakumar Yadav didn’t make India’s 15-member squad for the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, he is in the UAE to support the team. India will face New Zealand in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on March 9.

Rohit Sharma has been a pillar of Indian cricket, guiding the team to its second T20 World Cup title last year. He retired from T20Is after the thrilling final against South Africa, finishing as the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 257 runs in eight innings.

WATCH – Jonty Rhodes Rolls Back The Years With Spectacular Dive In IML 2025

Having fallen short in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, Rohit and his team will be determined to clinch the Champions Trophy and complete a flawless campaign. If India triumphs, they will become the first team to win the prestigious ODI tournament three times, having shared the title in 2002 and claimed it outright in 2013.