Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma is currently leading the squad in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, but he has found himself caught in an unexpected controversy. Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed made a remark on social media about Rohit's weight, which sparked backlash from cricket fans and political leaders alike. As criticism mounted, she later deleted her post, but by then, the issue had already gone viral.

BCCI Condemns the Statement as "Unfortunate"

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongly condemned Shama Mohammed’s comment. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia labeled the statement "unfortunate and unnecessary," emphasizing that such remarks can negatively impact a player’s morale. He said, "Making such statements during an important ICC tournament is inappropriate and distracts from the sport."

BCCI Official’s Strong Response

Speaking to NDTV, Devajit Saikia remarked, "All players are giving their best performances, and we can see the results. At this moment, such comments are completely unwarranted. We hope people refrain from making such unnecessary statements just for publicity."

Shama Mohammed’s Controversial Tweet

In her now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Shama Mohammed had written:
"Rohit Sharma is overweight for an athlete! He needs to lose weight, and frankly, he is India’s most ineffective captain ever."

Her remark drew sharp reactions from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused her of "body shaming" the star cricketer. BJP leaders also took a dig at Congress’s political record, calling the statement "insensitive and unacceptable."

Shama Mohammed Issues Clarification

As the controversy escalated, Shama Mohammed defended herself in an interview with ANI, stating:
"It was a general comment about an athlete’s fitness, not body shaming. I have always believed that players should be fit, and I felt that his weight was slightly higher, so I tweeted about it. However, I was unnecessarily targeted for it. When I compared him to past captains, I was merely expressing an opinion. In a democracy, I have the right to do so."

Rohit Sharma and Team India Focused on the Semi-Finals

Despite the controversy, Rohit Sharma and Team India remain focused on their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. The team has already secured a spot in the semi-finals, where they will face Australia on Tuesday. With his leadership and batting skills, Rohit will be looking to silence critics on the field.