Should Rohit Sharma be in the Indian team? Congress spokesperson Shama Mohammed said, “No.” Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy echoed her opinion.
However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia did not take these comments well. He called such remarks about India’s captain during the Champions Trophy “unfortunate.”
India has already secured a place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy. Yesterday, in their final group-stage match in Dubai, Rohit Sharma’s team defeated New Zealand by 44 runs. Rohit was dismissed for 15 runs in that match.
Following this, Congress leader Shama posted a critical comment on social media platform X, which was later deleted due to backlash. The post read:
“Rohit Sharma is too bulky as a player. He needs to lose weight and is certainly the most uncharismatic captain in India’s history. What world-class quality does he possess compared to his predecessors? He is a mediocre player and captain who was fortunate to become India’s skipper.”
Congress later clarified its stance, stating that Shama’s comments did not reflect the party’s position and that she had been instructed to delete the post.
Leaders of India’s ruling party, BJP, criticized Shama’s remarks and targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted on X:
“Those who have lost 90 elections under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership are calling Rohit Sharma’s captaincy uncharismatic! So, six ducks in Delhi and 90 election defeats are attractive, but winning the T20 World Cup is not? Rohit’s captaincy record is exceptional.”
BJP leader Radhika Khera also slammed Congress and Shama, stating:
“What audacity! This same Congress has insulted and ignored athletes for decades, and now they are mocking a cricketing legend! Rohit Sharma is a World Cup-winning captain, whereas your leader Rahul Gandhi couldn’t even lead his own party.”
However, Shama Mohammed had supporters too. Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, speaking to Indian news agency ANI, agreed that Rohit should not be in the Indian national team.
“I agree. This is not politics, it’s cricket. How long will Rohit Sharma be given a free pass? Scoring just one century in two years while getting out cheaply in other matches does not justify his place in the team. He should not have an authoritative position in the squad. The Congress leader was absolutely right. Even his weight is a concern. Yes, he is overweight, but people seem to ignore this.”
Saugata Roy further added:
“If we want a fit and capable captain, there are many new players performing well. If fitness is the main criteria, someone like Bumrah, who stays fit, could be a great captain. Even Shreyas Iyer has good potential. But Rohit Sharma should not be in the team.”
In this Champions Trophy, Rohit has scored 76 runs in three matches at an average of 25.33, with a highest score of 41.
The BCCI did not take these comments about their captain lightly. Speaking to Indian news outlet NDTV, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said:
“It is unfortunate for a responsible person to make such trivial comments when the team is playing an ICC tournament. This could have a negative impact on the team and the players personally. Everyone is giving their best effort, and the results are visible. I hope people refrain from making such disrespectful remarks for personal publicity.”
India will face Australia in the first semifinal of the Champions Trophy in Dubai today.
