Hit wicket? Congress leader stirs row with ‘Rohit Sharma is fat’ remark ahead of crucial Champions Trophy semifinal | India News

NEW DELHI: Just a day before India’s semifinal match against New Zealand, a political bouncer rattled Congress after party spokesperson Shama Mohamed took a swing at Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, calling him “fat” and a “mediocre captain.” Her remarks, made after Rohit got out during India’s Champions Trophy clash against New Zealand, have sparked a fiery debate, with politicians from all sides weighing in, and Congress distancing itself from the remark.
The Congress leader had taken to social media on Sunday, criticising Sharma’s physical fitness and calling him a “mediocre captain.” “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Needs to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!” she wrote in a now-deleted post.

She went on to compare him unfavourably to cricketing greats like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Sachin Tendulkar.

After facing heavy criticism, Mohamed defended her comments, insisting they were observations rather than body-shaming. “It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming,” she told ANI, adding that she had every right to express her opinion in a democracy.
‘Asked to delete her posts’: Congress
Congress leader Pawan Khera said that Mohamed had been asked to delete her posts and exercise greater caution in the future. “Her remarks do not reflect the party’s position. She has been advised to be more careful,” Khera wrote on X.

Congress MP Rajani Patil condemned Mohamed’s comments, saying, “I personally and the party also will not approve of body-shaming anyone. Talking this way about a sportsperson who represents the country is not right. The party will seek a response from her on this.”
BJP’s Lok Sabha dig
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla attacked the Congress, saying, “Those who have lost 90 elections under the captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling Rohit Sharma unimpressive! I guess six ducks in Delhi and 90 election losses is impressive, but winning the T20 World Cup isn’t! Rohit has a brilliant track record as captain.”

BJP leader Pradeep Bhandari accused Congress of opposing patriotic figures. “The Congress party is trying to send a message that every patriot, who does good for the country, will be opposed by them,” he said.
Rohit shouldn’t be in the team: TMC
TMC MP Saugata Roy supported Mohamed’s critique, arguing, “I heard that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been quite poor. He scored one century, but otherwise gets out cheaply. He shouldn’t be in the team. India wins because of other players.”
‘With extra pounds or without, has led India to great heights’: Shiv Sena (UBT)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took a different stand, saying, “Not an avid cricket fan, but even with my limited interest in the game, I can say that Rohit Sharma, with extra pounds or without, has led India to great heights. It is his work and commitment that matter. Win the trophy, Champion!”
‘Anti-India mentality appears to be expanding’
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam strongly opposed Mohamed’s remarks, calling them disrespectful. “Rohit Sharma and other cricketers like him are heroes of our country. Only Congress people can feel good about criticising such people. The anti-India mentality appears to be expanding from top to bottom.”
BCCI condemns remarks
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia condemned the remarks and said its “unfortunate” that such remarks were made before the semifinal match.
“It’s very unfortunate this kind of remarks come from such a person who is on a responsible post to our captain, on a meanwhile time when India is playing an ICC tournament and the team is all set to play Semi final,” he told ANI.
Mohamed defends her remarks
Despite the backlash, Mohamed doubled down on her stance, questioning Sharma’s leadership choices in key matches. She cited his decisions during India’s Test series against Australia and the World Cup final loss in Ahmedabad, arguing that his strategic calls had cost the team. “Didn’t he move KL Rahul to bat at number 3 at the MCG Test & put himself at number 1, which backfired? Because of that, Shubman Gill was out of the XI. Didn’t we lose the last World Cup in Ahmedabad?”
Later while speaking to ANI, Shama said that her comments were not meant to body-shame the Indian captain but were a general observation on athlete fitness.
“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,” she said. “I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy,” she added.