After India’s impressive victory against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed questioned Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma’s fitness and leadership. She wrote on social media: “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had.”
Congress Asks Shama to Delete Post
Later, the Congress party clarified that they respect sports personalities. The party instructed Shama to delete her social media posts, which she eventually did.
Shama’s Two Deleted Posts on Rohit
In her posts, Shama wrote:
“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had.”
She also compared Rohit Sharma with India’s former cricket legends, writing:
“What is so world class about him when compared to his predecessors like Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Kohli, Kapil Dev, Shastri & the rest! He is a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the Captain of India.”
Congress Urges Caution in Future Statements
Congress leader Pawan Khera addressed the controversy on social media platform X, stating:
“Congress national spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed made certain remarks about a cricket legend that do not align with the party’s ideology. She has been asked to delete the posts and has been advised to exercise more caution in the future.”
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Shama Mohamed’s Clarification
Following the backlash, Shama Mohamed defended her statement, saying,
“I did not intend to insult anyone. I only pointed out that, as a player, his weight is on the higher side. That is not body-shaming. I also said he is an ineffective captain because I compared him with past captains.”
BJP’s Response: “Rahul Gandhi Has Lost 90 Elections”
Reacting to Shama’s remarks, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said,
“People who have lost 90 elections under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership are calling Rohit Sharma an ineffective captain.”
He also praised Rohit’s track record and highlighted his T20 World Cup victory.
Former Congress leader Radhika Khera, who joined the BJP, accused Congress of disrespecting athletes for decades. She said,
“This is the same Congress that has repeatedly insulted sports stars, failed to recognize their contributions, and is now mocking a self-made champion like Rohit Sharma.”
Team India Reaches Champions Trophy Semi-Final
Amid this controversy, India secured the top position in Group A by defeating New Zealand by 44 runs. Shreyas Iyer’s 79-run knock and Varun Chakravarthy’s five-wicket haul played a crucial role in securing India’s place in the semi-finals.
India will face Australia on March 4 in the semi-finals.