Twitter trends 'Indian Paunch League'; players fat-shamed for 'healthy waistlines'

The cricket action saw the light of the day after five long months when Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 kicked off its journey on September 19. The season opener saw three-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) putting a dominating show against the Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI). It was quite evident that cricketers gained a lot of weight when they stepped forward for the first game of the IPL. In the same light, fans fat-shamed the cricketers for not being in shape.

The two cricketers who looked with some extra kilos were Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma and Saurabh Tiwary and CSK player Piyush Chawla. Both of them looked out of the shape, and fans couldn’t keep calm while seeing the cricketers not keeping up with their fitness. Former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha also came forward to express his opinions on the same matter.

“I have never played more than gully cricket, but I am pretty shocked to see some players in the #IPL2020 looking so unfit. I can’t think of another physical sport where players at the highest level could cope with these fitness levels,” he wrote in the tweet.

I have never played more than gully cricket but I am pretty shocked to see some players in the #IPL2020 looking so unfit. I can’t think of another physical sport where players at the highest level could cope with these fitness levels.

— Viren Rasquinha (@virenrasquinha) September 19, 2020

Players’ fitness under the scanner

Though a lot of big names commented on the fitness level of cricketers, fans came up with hilarious tweets to take a dig at the same topic. It was the fitness issues of some cricketers in the opening match that they were not up to the mark during their fielding show. The first match of the IPL 2020 saw Mumbai with the willow first, where a stunning bowling attack by Chennai ceased their innings on 162.

Though Chennai started on a weak note against the four-times champions and stumbled on 6/2. But when Faf Du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu came together, the opponents remained clueless to get back in the game. The duo stitched a partnership of 115 runs to rip apart the MI bowling attack. MI’s fielding was not up to the mark as well while even the CSK fielders looked rusty at times.

The CSK was able to start the game on a winning note by registering a five-wicket victory over arch-rivals. The Kings’ will face the Rajasthan Royals in their second match while MI will lock horns against the Kolkata Knight Riders in their next match.

Check out the Tweets here:

make fun of his body weight but when it comes to fielding, rohit sharma is far better than players like tanmay bhatt. pic.twitter.com/hjnHsN8eui

— ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎ ︎︎ (@firkey_) September 19, 2020

Rohit selected saurabh tiwary to look fitter.

— Are sun na yar (@Are_Sun_na_yar) September 19, 2020

Piyush Chawla bowling to Saurabh Tiwari is not really the best advertisement for fitness in sports.#MIvCSK #IPL2020

— s tanwar (@sushtany) September 19, 2020

Rohit : I want to lose weight and get in shape🦵
Virat : let's go to the Gym, hitman 🏋️
Rohit: pic.twitter.com/7oJNGotZTB

— Arihant💫 (@karwaan123) September 16, 2020

Can’t agree with him more. Piyush Chawla,Rohit Sharma & Saurabh Tiwary looked bloated yesterday. I know how difficult 2 hv a fitness regime but if you desire playing at the highest level, u need to go thro it every day. sad to see players in such a shape. https://t.co/Q7xZ2t673e

— Venkysdiary (@venkysdiary) September 20, 2020

Fitness levels of Piyush Chawla Saurabh Tiwari Pollard is not a good advert for IPL. But the circus is well and truly rolling and it has made an amazing impact in the first match #Dream11IPLMIvsCSK #CSKvMI #IPL2020

— Milesh Daru (@mpd12) September 19, 2020

When Saurabh Tiwary entered the scene he resembled MSD now he resembles Inzi bhai. How time changes.

— Anurag Rekhi (@Dravidict) September 19, 2020

Saurabh Tiwary looks like Rahkeem Cornwall in one angle.

— Billgates Billu (@BillgatesBillu) September 19, 2020

Rohit Sharma fans get offended faster than he gained weight..

— Vishesh (@vishthecomic) September 19, 2020

Rohit Sharma aur Bumrah ne weight put on kiya hai kya lockdown mai??#MIvCSK

— 🅒🅐 🅡🅐🅚🅔🅢🅗 🇮🇳❤️ (@albelaindian) September 19, 2020

Who is more Fit ??

RT for Rohit Sharma
Like for Jethalal pic.twitter.com/YuWgFlZP3r

— Pun Baaz (@apna__pun) September 19, 2020

Virat Kohli shaking hands with a fit Rohit Sharma pic.twitter.com/IviW2eA5mo

— Ram LIHC (@edgbaston_149) September 14, 2020

Someone:- If You Want To Play International Cricket For Long Time, You Have To Stay Slim Or Fit

Le Rohit Sharma:- pic.twitter.com/QiDpFYau6M

— Nirmal Maurya 💙💙💙 (@NirmalMaurya17) September 18, 2020

Saurabh Tiwary. 🧐
From Thala's lookalike to Rohit's 😂
Via : fb #Dream11IPLMIvsCSK #MIvsCSK pic.twitter.com/hMH1oO9AKD

— Rohit Arya 🕉️ (@unseenbroo) September 19, 2020

Saurabh tiwary fully accepted the rohit sharma fitness regime man wtf

— . (@ffsvirat) September 19, 2020

Saurabh Tiwary looks like the playground bully who has eaten everyone’s lunch.

— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) September 19, 2020

Indians shaming Rohit Sharma for his physique.

Meanwhile Saurabh Tiwary : pic.twitter.com/lPspwu8D1m

— Navneet Anand Mishra (@_dactar_babu) September 19, 2020

Rohit Sharma is a shocker provided his stature in the world cricket. He has to look fit. All other players are not playing international cricket.

— Jay Patel (@Jay2725) September 19, 2020