Rohit Sharma finds himself at the center of controversy once again—not for his cricketing skills, but for his fitness. An Indian lawmaker’s harsh remarks have sparked a heated debate, dragging the national captain into an unnecessary storm.
“@ImRo45 is fat for a sportsman! Needs to lose weight. And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!” Indian National Congress (INC) spokesperson Dr. Shama Mohamed posted on X, though the post was later deleted.
According to the Hindustan Times, Dr. Shama further criticized Sharma, calling him a mediocre captain who was merely fortunate to lead the team, insisting there was nothing “world-class” about him.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has strongly condemned Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed’s remarks on Rohit Sharma’s fitness, calling them “outright pathetic” and urging politicians to respect athletes’ dedication.
Mohamed’s now-deleted tweet criticized Sharma’s physique and captaincy, triggering widespread backlash. While defending her comments as an observation on fitness rather than body-shaming, she faced criticism from social media and politicians.
Backlash Over Congress Leader’s Remarks on Rohit Sharma’s Fitness
The Congress party later distanced itself from her remarks, with leader Pawan Khera clarifying they do not reflect the party’s stance.
Her remarks triggered a strong reaction from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla taking a dig at INC’s electoral failures.
“Those who have lost 90 elections under the captaincy of Rahul Gandhi are calling Rohit’s captaincy unimpressive,” Poonawalla retorted, highlighting that India had won the T20 World Cup 2024 under Sharma’s leadership.
This isn’t the first time Rohit’s fitness has been a talking point. In January, fans fat-shamed him during a Ranji Trophy match, even comparing him to “vada pav,” a popular Indian street food.
Despite the noise, Rohit Sharma and Team India remain focused on the bigger picture. Unbeaten in the Champions Trophy 2025, they are set to face Australia in the semi-final, proving that on the field, performance speaks louder than words.
