Congress leader's old post on Virat resurfaces amid Rohit row
What's the story
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed has been criticized for her remarks on Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma's fitness.
In a now-deleted X (formerly Twitter) post, Mohamed called Sharma "fat for a sportsman" and called him the "most unimpressive Captain India has ever had."
The controversy arose after India's victory over New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where Sharma scored 15 runs off 17 balls.
Unfavorable comparison
Mohamed's comparison of Sharma with former captains stirs controversy
The controversy took a new turn when Mohamed unfavorably compared Sharma to former Indian cricket captains like Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli.
A Pakistan-based sports journalist came to Sharma's defense, calling him a "mighty effective and world-class performer."
To this, Mohamed asked what was "world-class" about Sharma compared to his predecessors.
Political backlash
BJP criticizes Mohamed's remarks, Congress distances itself
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Mohamed's remarks. Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari asked if the Congress expects Rahul Gandhi to play cricket.
Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya called the comments "deeply shameful" and "outright pathetic," claiming they belittle athletes' hard work.
Amid the row, an old post by Mohamed from 2018 resurfaced where she slammed Kohli for his reply to a fan who liked English and Australian batsmen over Indians.
why-does-it-matter
Mohamed's take on Kohli
In 2018, Kohli said that "those who prefer English and Australian batsmen should not live in India," responding to a fan.
In response, Mohamed wrote on X: "Virat Kohli plays a British invented game, makes crores from endorsing foreign brands, got married in Italy, names Hershelle Gibbs his favourite cricketer and Angelique Kerber the best tennis player, but tells those who love foreign batsmen to leave India."
Retaliation
Mohamed highlights old post by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut
In retaliation to criticism from BJP leaders, Mohamed highlighted an old post by Bollywood actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut using derogatory language against cricketers.
This was in response to Sports Minister Mandaviya's disapproval of her remarks on Sharma.
The incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding public figures' comments on athletes, especially when they verge on personal attacks.