One of the best hitters in cricket, Rohit Sharma, faces similar scrutiny. For years he has been the subject of memes that linked him to Mumbai’s beloved street snack, Vada Pav. While he becomes more approachable as he walks to the crease, they also lead to unfair judgments about his fitness. Recently, the Parliamentary spokesman, Ph.D. Shama Mohamed His remarks about Rohit’s physique rekindled the debate and sparked backlash.
But while social media is sticking to what he is called.”Dad’s body“Rohit continues to do his best – a better time than anyone else in the world. Whether his easy flick of midwicket or a vibrant cover drive, his batting is an accurate masterclass.
Whether his effortless flick on midwicket or his vibrant cover drive, Rohit’s batting is an accurate masterclass. His body may not resemble a gym-covered athlete’s body, especially when juxtaposed with rock hard Virat Kohli, but his performance has silenced critics. Fitness is often more than aesthetics.
Athletic ability is more than just appearance
The belief that top athletes must have bitten their physique is a misunderstanding. Athletic ability isn’t about appearance, it’s about endurance, skills, and efficiency. Athletes like Rohit who don’t fit traditional patterns often face scrutiny. However, his advantage at the 2024 T20 World Cup was proof that fitness was about outcomes, not your appearance.
Rohit Sharma domination at the 2024 T20 World Cup
If you have any questions about Rohit’s fitness, his performance at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup put them down. As captain, he led India to his second T20 World Cup title in an undefeated campaign, earning seven wins over South Africa in the final.
Rohit Having scored 257 runs in the tournament, he became one of India’s most consistent batters. He became the first Indian to win two T20 World Cups and the first captain to register for a 50 T20I victory. His leadership, tactical intelligence and fearless decision-making have contributed to India’s success.
Following the World Cup, Rohit retired from T20IS and focused on ODI test. His recent performance continues to dismiss fitness concerns. In the ODI series with the UK in February 2025, he destroyed 119 from a 90 ball in Cuttack. Most recently, in the 2025 Champions Trophy match against Pakistan, he made a steady 20 run knock before suffering a mild hamstring injury.
These performances reinforce important truths. Fitness isn’t about having a subdivided physique, it’s about offering at the highest level.
Myth of a “perfect” athletic body
Social media promotes the idea that elite athletes must be lean and muscular. However, true athletic ability is about exercise efficiency, endurance and adaptability.
Consider Patrick Mahomes of the NFL, Luka Dončić of the NBA, and CC Sabathia of the MLB. However, Mahomes’ agility, Doncic’s control, and Sabathia’s durability ignore traditional fitness stereotypes.
These examples highlight simple truths. Fit and fit are two completely different things.
Rohit Sharma and the Science of Cricket Fitness
Cricket requires a unique blend of skills, including explosive strength, endurance, mental resilience, and hand and eye adjustments. Rohit excels in all of these areas.
- Power generation: His timing and balance, not his brute strength, allows him to easily clear boundaries.
stamina : Batting in extreme conditions over a long period of time requires not only definition of muscles but also high durability.- Agility and Game Recognition: Not the fastest sprinter, but his efficient moves and expectations make up for him.
- Recovery: His ability to run beyond formats without frequent injury highlights his elite conditioning.
- His record 2019 World Cup campaign, which made him the first batsman to win the fifth century in one edition, would not have been possible without first-class fitness. In 2024, he once again led India to an ICC title, reaffirming his status as a world-class athlete.
Rohit Sharma’s Record
Rohit’s legacy is built on unparalleled achievements.
- ODI: Best individual score (264), 3rd century players only.
- World Cup: One edition in most century (May 2019).
- T20I: the best lansellor (4,231), most centuries (5), most 6, 205).
- Captain: Leading India into an undefeated 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
- His ability to dominate beyond the format, regardless of external scrutiny, cements his position among cricket greats.
Advantages of “Dad’s Body”: Mass equals force
Contrary to popular belief, additional masses can provide motion benefits. Patrick Mahomes plays with 14% body fat. This is a balance that optimizes stability, durability and flexibility.
In the case of batters, the controlled mass increases rotational force and assists in making shots. Rohit’s 6-hit ability is about biomechanics, not brute strength. His bat speed, timing and physical stability allow him to produce maximum power with minimal effort.
(Photo: Abhishek Chinnappa/Getty Images)
The problem of fat embarrassment in sports
Dr. Shama Mohamed’s comments highlight a broader issue: an obsession with aesthetics about performance.
Many legendary athletes face similar scrutiny. Shane Warne, despite his physique, is one of the greatest bowlers in cricket. Inzamam-ul-Haq was often ridiculed for his weight, but he played some of the most elegant innings ever. Charles Barkley was labelled “too fat” in basketball, but has become the NBA MVP.
Rohit Sharma may not look like a sprinter, but his results speak more eloquently than embarrassing remarks in any body.
Redefining athletic ability
Rohit Sharma’s so-called “Dad Bod” doesn’t make him inappropriate. It challenges a flawed perception of fitness. Athletic ability isn’t about looking good in the gym. That’s what excels in your sport.
As a coach for the Golden State Warriors Steve Kerr I once said: “If you want to know if someone is a good athlete, give them the ball and stick.”
The sculpted physique does not win matches of skill, endurance and intelligence. And in all important metrics, Rohit Sharma is an elite athlete.
