Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed called Team India captain Rohit Sharma "fat for a sportsman" and "the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had" during India vs New Zealand match.
By Aniket Chakrabory
Mar 3, 2025
Following severe backlash from cricket fans and BJP, Congress party high-command asked her to take down her controversial posts.
2
Ms. Mohamed initially defended her comments saying they were "generic" and questioned how "in a democracy, we don't have the right to speak."
3
Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera clarified that her remarks "do not reflect the party's position" and that she had been advised "to exercise greater caution."
4
When a Pakistan-based journalist defended Sharma, Mohamed called him "a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the Captain of India."
5
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticized the comments asking if Congress "expects Rahul Gandhi to now play cricket after failing in Indian politics."
6
Bhandari told NDTV the remarks reflected Congress's "Emergency mindset" and were "an insult to every patriot who supports the Indian cricket team."
7
The article notes that 37-year-old Rohit Sharma took over as Team India captain in 2023 and has led India to a T20 World Cup and two Asia Cup trophies.
8
Though Mohamed deleted all her posts including her defense, the article mentions she hadn't apologized for her comments.
9
As Mumbai Indians captain in the IPL, Sharma has led the team to five IPL titles, contradicting Mohamed's claims about his leadership abilities.