A recent comment by Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed about Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has sparked a fierce controversy. Mohamed, criticizing Sharma’s physical appearance, referred to him as “fat for a sportsman” and described his captaincy as the “most unimpressive” in India’s cricket history. In a social media post, she wrote, “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! He needs to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had.”
Her remarks quickly drew backlash, especially from BJP leaders and cricket fans. Mohamed, responding to a user who praised Sharma as a “world-class player,” questioned his legacy, suggesting that compared to cricketing legends like Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli, Sharma was a “mediocre” player who “got lucky” with his captaincy.
The BJP was quick to condemn the comments, accusing the Congress of “body-shaming” a World Cup-winning captain. BJP leader Radhika Khera, who recently switched to the BJP, criticized her former party for belittling athletes over the years, pointing out that Congress had long denied recognition to sports figures and now mocked a cricketing icon.
“Congress humiliated athletes for decades, and now they mock a cricketer who has brought glory to India?” Khera said, adding that Congress should focus on its internal problems rather than targeting a national hero like Sharma.
Shama Mohamed defended her comments, claiming they were not intended to body-shame but were merely an observation about Sharma’s fitness. She asserted, “I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that.”
Meanwhile, India secured a dominant 44-run victory over New Zealand in their final group-stage match of the 2025 Champions Trophy, with captain Rohit Sharma’s leadership still under the spotlight. India will face Australia in the semi-finals on March 4, 2025.
Read also: