Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed’s criticism of Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, calling him “fat” and the “most unimpressive captain,” has sparked controversy. While the Congress party distanced itself from her remarks, suggesting they do not reflect the party’s views, Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray supported her, stating Sharma’s performance has been lacking, except for one century. The BJP condemned Mohamed’s comments, questioning Congress’s respect for Indian icons and mocking their leadership. Rohit Sharma, 37, led India to significant victories since taking over as captain in 2023, including a T20 World Cup and two Asia Cups.
New Delhi:
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed’s comments regarding Team India captain Rohit Sharma may have elicited a strong backlash from party leaders, but she has received unexpected support from an unlikely source. Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray stated that Ms. Mohamed’s remarks were not misplaced.
In an interview with news agency IANS, Mr. Ray remarked, “I have heard that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been subpar. He has scored one century, but aside from that, he consistently gets dismissed after scoring 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs. He shouldn’t be on the squad. India wins because of the contributions of other players, while the captain doesn’t add value.” The seasoned politician continued, “What Shama Mohamed said is accurate.”
Kolkata, West Bengal: Regarding Congress leader Shama Mohamed’s comments about Team India captain Rohit Sharma, TMC MP Saugata Roy stated, “I have heard that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been quite poor. He scored one century, but aside from that, he consistently gets out after scoring 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs. He… pic.twitter.com/h89cNP43jO
— IANS (@ians_india) March 3, 2025
The severe criticism made by the Congress leader towards Mr. Sharma, who is popularly known as Hitman due to his aggressive batting style, has ignited considerable controversy.
In a post on X during the India vs New Zealand Champions Trophy clash yesterday, Ms. Mohamed stated that Rohit Sharma “is overweight for a sportsman.” She added, “He needs to lose weight! And of course, he is the most unimpressive captain India has ever had.”
Following the uproar and the BJP seizing the opportunity to question the Congress’s sense of patriotism, Ms. Mohamed removed her posts.
The Congress party has distanced itself from the statements, asserting that they do not represent the party’s stance.
Pawan Khera, the chairman of the party’s publicity department, announced that she had been instructed to delete the social media posts. “Dr. Shama Mohammed, National Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress, made certain remarks about a cricketing legend that do not reflect the party’s position. She has been asked to remove the concerning social media posts from X and has been advised to exercise more caution in the future. The Indian National Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in high esteem and does not support any statements that detract from their legacy,” Mr. Khera tweeted.
Earlier, the BJP responded sharply, questioning if the Congress now expects Rahul Gandhi to take up cricket. “Shame on Congress! Now they are targeting the Indian cricket captain! Do they expect Rahul Gandhi to play cricket after his failures in Indian politics?” BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari commented in response to the Congress leader’s remarks.
Speaking to NDTV, Mr. Bhandari noted that the Congress spokesperson’s comment reflects the party’s Emergency mentality. “It’s an insult to every patriot who stands with the Indian cricket team through thick and thin. I challenge the Congress’s criticism,” he stated.
Thirty-seven-year-old Rohit Sharma assumed the role of Team India captain in 2023. Under his leadership, India secured the T20 World Cup title last year and claimed two Asia Cup trophies earlier. He has also established a remarkable record in the IPL, leading the Mumbai Indians to five IPL championships.