As India gears up to face Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Tuesday evening, skipper Rohit Sharma finds himself embroiled in controversy back home. The 37-year-old captain was recently accused of being “overweight for a sportsperson” by Shama Mohamed, a politician from India’s main opposition party, the Congress. Her comment sparked a political uproar, drawing sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which labelled it a distraction for the team at a crucial time.
Amid increasing backlash, Mohamed’s own party distanced itself from her remarks, leading her to delete the contentious tweet. In her defence, she insisted that her comments were about Sharma’s fitness rather than body-shaming, stating, “I was watching the India-New Zealand match and saw the captain. His paunch is coming out, so I said he needs to be more fit.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) expressed concern over the situation, with secretary Devajit Saikia condemning the “derogatory” comments made during a pivotal global tournament.
In the wake of Mohamed’s remarks, Yograj Singh, former Indian cricketer and father of Yuvraj Singh, strongly rebuked her, suggesting she should leave the country for her statements about a player who has brought pride to India. He declared, “If someone makes such a statement about a player, that person should be ashamed.” Singh’s comments reflect a broader sentiment that cricket is engrained in the fabric of Indian identity, reinforcing that criticism of players should be approached with caution.
The semi-final match also serves as a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final, where Australia triumphed over India, leading to national disappointment. As both teams prepare for the crucial clash, Australia will face challenges of their own, fielding a depleted squad without key players like Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who are absent due to differing circumstances.
With emotions running high, both on and off the field, the outcome of the match could have more than just sporting implications for Rohit Sharma and Indian cricket.