Indian politician fat-shames Rohit Sharma, calls him 'unimpressive captain'

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Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has found himself at the centre of controversy after a Congress spokesperson publicly fat-shamed him, calling him "the most unimpressive" Indian captain in history.

Dr Shama Mohamed, the spokesperson, made the controversial remarks on social media, stating that the Indian opener was "fat for a sportsman" and needed to lose weight.

She further 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 both fans and political rivals.

Photo: X

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, 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.

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