Congress spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed’s comments on Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma have sparked a significant political controversy. During India’s Champions Trophy match against New Zealand, where Sharma was dismissed after scoring 15 runs off 17 balls, Mohamed took to social media to express her dissatisfaction with his performance and physical fitness. She described Sharma as “fat for a sportsman” and labeled him “the most unimpressive captain India has ever had.”
These remarks quickly drew sharp criticism from various quarters, including political adversaries and cricket enthusiasts. Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla responded by highlighting the Congress party’s electoral defeats under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, stating, “Those who have lost 90 elections under the captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling the captaincy of Rohit Sharma unimpressive!” He further defended Sharma’s track record, emphasizing his achievements as a captain.
The backlash extended beyond political lines, with many accusing Mohamed of body-shaming the cricketer. In her defense, Mohamed clarified that her comments were intended as a general observation about an athlete’s fitness rather than an attempt to body-shame. She stated, “It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that.”
Despite her clarification, the intensity of the backlash prompted Mohamed to delete her original posts. The incident has ignited a broader debate on social media regarding the boundaries of public commentary on athletes’ physiques and the responsibilities of public figures in such discussions.
Rohit Sharma, aged 37, has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket, leading the national team in various formats and achieving significant milestones both as a player and a captain. Under his leadership, India has secured notable victories, including a win in the T20 World Cup. Comparisons between Sharma and his predecessors have been a topic of discussion among cricket analysts and fans alike.
The Congress party, aiming to mitigate the situation, reportedly instructed Mohamed to remove her contentious posts. This move underscores the sensitivity surrounding public figures’ comments on national sports icons and the potential repercussions such remarks can entail.
Assam CM Sarma Accuses Opposition Leaders of Anti-Hindu Agenda 