Test cricket legend Daryll Cullinan fat shames Indian skipper Rohit Sharma ahead of must-win match against Australia in Brisbane

It may be cloudy in Brisbane but the heat is already on India skipper Rohit Sharma with a former Test great saying he is too fat for the grueling five-match series.

Sharma joined the Indian squad in Adelaide after missing the first Test in Perth, hitting himself in the middle order instead of his usual post opening the batting.

His arrival in Australia has sparked controversy after reports he had a heated clash with pace bowler Mohammed Shami who has not been selected in any of Australia’s three Tests – despite seam-friendly conditions.

He also opted to sit out the pre-match press conference and instead feature Shubman Gill.

Former South African star Daryll Cullinan was regarded as the best Test batsman of his generation and has teed off against Sharma ahead of the Brisbane Test.

Cullinan called him ‘overweight and a flat bully’ who was no longer the player he was.

Former South African star Daryll Cullinan said Sharma is no longer fit enough for long Test cricket series

It remains unknown whether Sharma will open the batting or move himself back down the order as he did in Adelaide

“Look at Rohit and then Virat. Note the difference in their physical condition. Rohit is overweight and not a long-term cricketer anymore,” Cullinan told Insidesport.

Rohit is not in good physical condition for the tough conditions of a four- or five-match Test series.”

‘I’ll say it again. Rohit is best at home but I wonder if India won’t backfire as they weren’t the same team in the second Test.

“I think Rohit is a flat bully. Let’s look at the numbers outside India. Every time he has been in South Africa I have a distinct feeling that he does not like the short ball.

‘(I didn’t like) that he is now in the middle of the table. He is an opener. He has to come from the front and take charge.”

It comes as India’s batsmen have been told to solve their first innings problems and find a way to come big against Australia in Brisbane after a horror recent run in Tests over the past three months.

India are 1-1 and arrive at the Gabba with fond memories after their heroics at the venue four summers ago enabled them to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

But they are also well aware that they need to undo a devastating run with the bat that dates back to their two-Test series against Bangladesh in September.

Shubman Gill, right, took over the duties of talking to the media ahead of the Brisbane Test

While much of the focus has been on Australia’s teetering top spot, India have had their own problems in their first innings of Tests in recent months.

In seven Tests this season, India’s top seven batsmen have not hit centuries and 10 ducks in their team’s first innings.

The only three-figure score by an Indian player in a first innings comes from Ravichandran Ashwin batting at number 8 against Bangladesh.

Together, the group has also only achieved seven scores above 50, with the top seven having an average of 22.

Virat Kohli also has just one first-innings score above 10 in the Tests against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia, while Rohit has failed to reach 25.

“As a team and as a batting group, we want to put up a big first-up,” senior hitter Shubman Gill said.

‘This has been one of the most important discussions. Every hitter will have his own game plan.

‘As a batting group, we will collectively try to get a big score in the first innings. That’s what the discussion was about.’

Gill was India’s most consistent performer with the bat at the time, making scores of 31 and 28 last week on his return from a broken thumb in Adelaide.

He made his debut on India’s last tour of Australia, hitting a crucial 91 in the Gabba Test to help his side stun the hosts and claim an upset win in the series.

“I definitely felt very nostalgic when I came here,” Gill said.

‘The conditions are certainly challenging (in Australia), but there is a period between 30 and 35 overs until the new ball when it becomes a little easier to bat.

‘It’s about mental intensity. The places are fast.

“You have to be right there in terms of mental fitness and play with the same intensity that you came to the crease with in the beginning.”