Rohit Sharma and Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed

Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed found herself at the center of a social media storm after her comments on India captain Rohit Sharma’s weight sparked widespread backlash. Facing criticism from former cricketers, BJP leaders, and even her own party, Mohamed later defended her remarks, insisting they were not meant as body shaming.
In a now-deleted post on X, she wrote, “@ImRo45 is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!” The post quickly drew strong reactions, prompting her to remove it.
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Speaking to ANI after the controversy erupted, Mohamed argued that her comment was merely an observation on an athlete’s fitness rather than an attempt to body shame Rohit. “It was just a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It is not body shaming. I always believe a sportsperson has to be fit. So I felt he’s a bit overweight and I just tweeted on that,” she said.

She further justified her stance by comparing Rohit with past Indian captains like MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev and Virat Kohli. “I have the right. It’s a democracy. What is wrong in saying this?” she questioned.
Mohamed also referenced past incidents where cricketers faced criticism, including when Virat Kohli defended teammate Mohammed Shami after India’s loss to Pakistan. “Let’s not forget how Virat was attacked when he supported Shami. A good captain leads from the front, scores runs, and acknowledges opponents’ performances,” she added.

Her remarks did not sit well with former cricketers. Speaking to ANI, Atul Wassan dismissed her comments, stating, “He is a World Cup-winning captain. Her remarks should not be taken seriously as she doesn’t understand match fitness.” Rohit’s former coach Dinesh Lad also came to his defense, highlighting his recent performances. “If Rohit was not fit, he wouldn’t have scored a century against England in the ODI series,” Lad said.
Former selector Sarandeep Singh reinforced Rohit’s athleticism, saying, “Rohit doesn’t look unfit from anywhere. He has been diving on the field and performing brilliantly. We all are proud of what he is doing.”
The Congress party quickly distanced itself from Mohamed’s remarks. Party leader Pawan Khera clarified on X, stating, “Her comments do not reflect the party’s position. She has been advised to exercise greater caution in the future.”

With criticism mounting from both cricketing and political circles, Mohamed’s defense has done little to quell the storm surrounding her remarks on the Indian captain.