Congress leader sparks row with Rohit post; BCCI and minister hit back

Mohamed, however, didn’t agree that she had “body-shamed” Sharma. “It is a generic tweet on his fitness. So why are you making it a big thing?” she told The Indian Express. “I was watching the India-New Zealand match and I saw the captain. Before him, there was Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid, M S Dhoni — all of them were fit. Here, his paunch is coming out. So I said the captain needs to be more fit.”

In her now-deleted post on X, she had also questioned Sharma’s leadership. “Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had,” she had said.

Dr. Shama Mohammed, National Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress, made certain remarks about a cricketing legend that do not reflect the party’s position.

She has been asked to delete the concerned social media posts from X and has been advised to exercise greater…

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 3, 2025

Distancing the Congress from her remarks, Pawan Khera, chairman of the party’s media and publicity department, said on X: “Shama Mohamed… made certain remarks about a cricketing legend that do not reflect the party’s position… The Indian National Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy.”

Meanwhile, TMC MP Sougata Roy also waded into the controversy, saying that “India wins because the other players play well, but the captain doesn’t contribute much…”

In his statement to the media, Mandaviya said the “Congress and TMC should leave sportspersons alone”. “Remarks made by leaders from these parties, indulging in body shaming and questioning an athlete’s place in the team, are not only deeply shameful but also outright pathetic,” he said.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said it was “very unfortunate” that these “trivial comments” were emerging in the middle of India’s Champions Trophy campaign, adding that it may have a “demoralising effect”.

Mohamed, however, maintained that she had only commented on the fitness of a sportsperson. “They said body shaming… body shaming is when somebody is walking on the road or somebody you meet at the dinner… and you say you are fat. I am talking about a sportsperson and his fitness.”

Rajeev Shukla, Congress leader and long-time BCCI vice-president, maintained that Sharma was “fit and doing well”, while insisting that Mohamed’s comments were made in a personal capacity and had nothing to do with the party.

On the Congress distancing itself, Mohamed said: “My party did the right thing by saying that it has nothing to do with them… I spoke as an individual of this country watching sport. I felt sports people should be fit. There is also a campaign by the Prime Minister called Fit India. So what is wrong?”

Meanwhile, former India spinner and AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh said the comments were “unfortunate and uncalled for”. “He is an outstanding player and an exceptional leader who has made immense contributions to Indian cricket. Sportspersons are also human beings with emotion and sentiment. It indeed hurts when persons who have zero knowledge of the game give sermons. Respect the game and respect the players,” he wrote on X.