Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma found himself at the centre of an unnecessary controversy after Congress spokesperson Dr Shama Mohamed made disparaging remarks about his fitness and leadership. In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Mohamed called Rohit “fat for a sportsman” and deemed him “the most unimpressive captain India has ever had.” Unsurprisingly, the comment triggered a massive backlash from fans and cricket analysts alike, forcing her to remove the post.
Despite deleting the tweet, Mohamed refused to back down. She continued questioning Rohit’s captaincy by referencing his past tactical decisions. She cited his decision to promote KL Rahul to No. 3 in the Melbourne Test while opening the batting himself, arguing that this move cost Shubman Gill his place in the XI. Additionally, she pointed out India’s loss in the 2023 ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad, implying that Rohit failed to lead the team to victory on cricket’s grandest stage.
Taking her criticism even further, Mohamed labelled Rohit a “mediocre player” who got “lucky” to become India’s captain. She compared him unfavourably to past greats like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Kapil Dev, questioning what made him “world-class” in comparison.
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When confronted with accusations of body shaming, Mohamed defended herself, insisting that her comments were merely about an athlete’s fitness. “It was just a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It is not body shaming. A sportsperson has to be fit, and I felt he is a bit overweight,” she told ANI. She further justified her stance by saying, “It’s a democracy. I have the right to express my opinion.”
Interestingly, Mohamed attempted to deflect criticism by praising former Indian captain Virat Kohli. She recalled how Kohli had supported Mohammed Shami when the pacer faced online hate following India’s loss to Pakistan. She also lauded Kohli’s leadership, highlighting his ability to encourage teammates and acknowledge opponents’ performances.
#BreakingNews | Congress Leader Shama Mohamed defends her remarks on Indian Captain Rohit Sharma
BJP’s @Shehzad_Ind joins conversation
News18’s @payalmehta100 shares details@Elizasherine | #Congress #RohitSharma #ChampionsTrophy pic.twitter.com/xTFtmjLql1
— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 3, 2025
However, this is not the first time Rohit Sharma has been scrutinized over his fitness. Former South African cricketer Daryll Cullinan also expressed concerns, suggesting that Rohit’s physique might not allow him to be a long-term Test cricketer. “Look at Rohit, then at Virat. Notice the difference in their physical condition. Rohit is overweight and not in a good shape to play a four or five-match Test series,” Cullinan told InsideSport in December 2023.
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Despite such remarks, Rohit Sharma has repeatedly silenced critics with his performances. His aggressive captaincy and stellar batting displays have led India to multiple victories, including a dominant Champions Trophy campaign. While fitness is undoubtedly an important factor in modern cricket, reducing a player’s contributions to just their physical appearance undermines their skills, leadership, and achievements.
The backlash against Mohamed’s comments reflects the overwhelming support Rohit enjoys among fans and experts. His leadership and batting prowess continue to be instrumental in India’s success, proving that his impact goes far beyond superficial judgments about weight and fitness.
