Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The controversy surrounding Congress leader Shama Mohamed’s comments on Rohit Sharma’s fitness took a fresh turn as Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy supported her claim, stating that the Indian captain “shouldn’t even be in the team.”
Trinamool MP’s Remarks Stir Debate
Despite strained ties between the Congress and Trinamool, Roy echoed Mohamed’s opinion, agreeing that Sharma was overweight and questioning his place in the national squad.
“This is not about politics; this is about cricket. Scoring a century once in two years and failing in other matches does not justify his place. He should not remain in authority. The Congress leader is right; yes, he is overweight, but people don’t seem to care,” said Roy.
While Rohit Sharma’s form in the Champions Trophy has been inconsistent, his captaincy has guided India to the semi-finals with dominating wins. However, Roy suggested that Jasprit Bumrah or Shreyas Iyer could be better captaincy choices.
Congress Distances Itself, BJP Seizes Opportunity
The controversy erupted when Shama Mohamed tweeted:
“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Needs to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive captain India has ever had!”
The post sparked massive backlash, forcing Mohamed to delete it. She later clarified:
“It was not body-shaming. I just made a general observation about an athlete’s fitness.”
The Congress swiftly distanced itself, asserting that it respects India’s sporting icons. Meanwhile, the BJP used the row to attack Rahul Gandhi, with spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla taking a dig at the Congress leader’s track record.
“I guess six ducks in Delhi and 90 election losses are impressive, but winning the T20 World Cup isn’t! Rohit has a brilliant captaincy record,” Poonawalla said.
With political parties trading barbs over cricket, the controversy has escalated beyond sports, becoming a fresh flashpoint in the political discourse.
