'Captain Doesn't Contribute': TMC MP Backs Shama Mohamed's Rohit Sharma Remark, She Doubles Down

Last Updated:March 03, 2025, 17:25 IST

Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy said Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed had not said anything wrong about Team India captain Rohit Sharma, whose "performance has been quite poor" in the ICC Champions Trophy

Rohit Sharma is currently in Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. (Image: AP)

Amid widespread criticism over her controversial comments against Team India’s captain Rohit Sharma, Shama Mohamed has found support from Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Roy. He said the Congress spokesperson had not said anything wrong about the skipper, whose “performance has been quite poor".

“I heard that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been quite poor. He scored one century, but other than that, he gets out after scoring 2, 3, 4, or 5 runs. He shouldn’t be in the team. India wins because the other players play well, but the captain doesn’t contribute much…" Roy said, when asked to respond to Mohamed’s “fat-shaming" of Sharma, who is currently leading the Indian cricket team at the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Mohamed’s remarks came amid the Indian cricket team’s undefeated run at the ongoing Champions Trophy and right after it won against New Zealand to set up the first semi-final of the tournament against Australia, which will take place on Tuesday (March 4). Sharma scored 15 runs in the match with New Zealand on Sunday (March 2).

The Congress spokesperson, however, was reprimanded by her party and asked to delete her social media posts in which she made the comments and exercise greater caution in future. She has now deleted the posts on X, which she made late on Sunday, but not before drawing backlash from many including BJP leaders.

The Congress said Mohamed’s remarks about the cricketing legend do not reflect the party’s position. In her now-deleted post, she said Sharma is “fat for a sportsman". “Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!" she said.

Responding to a post praising Sharma, Mohamed asked what was so world class about the current captain when compared to his predecessors like Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri and the rest.

Media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, “Dr. Shama Mohammed, Spokesperson of the Indian Congress, made certain remarks about a cricketing legend that do not reflect the party’s position." She has been asked to delete the concerned social media posts from X and has been advised to exercise greater caution in the future, he said.

“The Indian Congress holds the contributions of sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy," he said.

(With PTI inputs)

News politics 'Captain Doesn't Contribute': TMC MP Backs Shama Mohamed's Rohit Sharma Remark, She Doubles Down