Indian congress leader sparks outrage with body-shaming remarks on Rohit Sharma

A political firestorm erupted on social media after the Congress spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed body-shamed Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, calling him "fat" and "the most unimpressive captain" while questioning his credibility compared to legends like Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virat Kohli. 

Rohit Sharma has found himself at the centre of controversy after Dr Shama Mohamed remarked on social media that the Indian opener was "fat for a sportsman" and needed to lose weight.

She added that Sharma was a "mediocre" captain, suggesting he was merely "lucky" to be in the position and lacked the world-class abilities of his predecessors.

The post, which was made on X (formerly Twitter), quickly went viral before being deleted. The remarks were made during the ongoing India vs New Zealand match, prompting a flurry of reactions from fans and political rivals.
The criticism did not go unnoticed, as the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly responded with a scathing rebuke. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla mocked the Congress, pointing out their party's electoral failures under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, suggesting that Congress had no right to criticise Sharma's captaincy after losing 90 elections.

Despite the backlash, Dr Shama Mohamed remained defiant. She defended her comments, claiming that they were made in a "generic" manner and that she had the right to speak freely in a democracy.

She also dismissed any wrongdoing, claiming there was nothing wrong with her remarks. However, her comments have ignited heated discussions on social media, with many fans of Rohit Sharma defending him and highlighting his leadership successes, including India’s triumph in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

The incident also drew attention to Rohit Sharma’s fitness, with several critics referring to his weight as a hindrance to his performance. This is not the first time the cricketer has faced such comments; in January, during a Ranji Trophy match, he was also fat-shamed by fans, being compared to "vada pav," a popular street food in India.

While the controversy rages on, Rohit Sharma remains focused on leading India in the ongoing Champions Trophy 2025, where the team is undefeated and preparing for a semi-final clash against Australia.

Amid the political slugfest, Rohit Sharma’s childhood coach, Dinesh Lad, broke his silence in an emotional exclusive interview with Republic TV, fiercely defending his student's legacy and slamming the "shameless" comments.

"I think whatever they wanted to say I don’t mind for that. I know Rohit’s potential, I know how he is leading the Indian team so it is a shameless thing she is saying. I cannot comment further."