Congress leader Shama Mohamed faced backlash after labeling Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma as “fat” and a “mediocre” leader, claiming he should lose weight. Her comments sparked outrage on social media, prompting her to delete the post. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar defended Rohit, stating that the focus should be on mental strength rather than physical appearance, arguing that cricket performance is not determined by body size. He criticized the notion that only slim players should be selected, emphasizing that success in cricket is about skill and endurance. The Congress party distanced itself from Mohamed’s remarks, underscoring respect for sports icons.
In light of the significant backlash regarding Congress leader Shama Mohamed’s ‘fat’ comment about Indian captain Rohit Sharma, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has expressed his thoughts on the body shaming issue. Shama Mohamed posted on X that Rohit needs to shed some pounds as he is “fat for a sportsman.” She stated, “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!” This post has since been removed following public outcry.
Nonetheless, Gavaskar believes that cricket is primarily about mental resilience and that a player’s physical appearance should not factor into it. He even suggested that if fitness was the primary criterion for selection, models would be chosen for the team.
“I have always said, if you want only slim guys, then you should go to a modelling competition and pick all the models. It’s not about that,” Gavaskar told India Today.
“It’s about how well you can play cricket. We talked about Sarfaraz Khan—he was criticized for a long time for being on the heavier side. But if he scores 150 for India in a Test match and follows it up with another two or three scores of fifty-plus, then what’s the problem? I don’t believe size matters. It’s your mental strength—whether you can endure and last the distance—that is the most crucial factor. Bat well, bat long, and score runs,” he added.
In a separate post, Shama compared Rohit to past Indian captains, branding him a “mediocre” leader.
“What is so world-class about him compared to his predecessors? He is a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the captain of India,” she remarked.
With India poised to face Australia in a vital Champions Trophy semi-final on Tuesday, Shama’s comments have also drawn criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Even Shama’s own party, Congress, has distanced itself from her statements.
“The Indian National Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest esteem and does not support any statements that undermine their legacy,” said Pawan Khera, head of Congress’ media and publicity department.
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