New Delhi: Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed is facing flak for criticising and body shaming Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma. Mohamed is not only facing criticism from cricket fans but also from political leaders. Shama Mohamed called him "overweight" and "the most unimpressive captain India has ever had." After the criticism, she later deleted her posts. Besides calling Rohit Sharma fat, Mohamed also raised questions on captaincy, calling it ‘unimpressive’. 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Radhika Khera lashed out at Mohamed for her comments on the Team India captain. "This is the same Congress that humiliated athletes for decades, denied them recognition, and now dares to mock a cricketing legend? The party that thrives on nepotism is lecturing a self-made champion?" Khera wrote.

While taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi, Khera added, "Rohit Sharma led India to a World Cup victory, while Rahul Gandhi can't even lead his own party without sinking it into chaos!"

Shama Mohamed's Controversial tweet:

Who Is Shama Mohamed?

Mohamed is a national media panellist and spokesperson of the Congress. She is also a dentist. Born on May 17, 1973, in Cherukallayi, near New Mahe in Kerala's Kannur, she completed her schooling in Kuwait. After returning to India, Mohamed graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Sciences from Yenepoya University, Mangalore.

She also worked as a journalist with Zee TV for a brief period. She joined the Congress in 2015. In July 2015, she was appointed as national spokesperson of the party. In December 2018, Mohamed was appointed as a national media panellist of the Congress. 

Mohamed is married and has two children. She has always kept her personal life secret. In March last year, Mohamed criticised the lack of female candidates in the Lok Sabha polls. 

Jounalists Countered Shama Mohamed's Remarks:

Noted journalist, Rajdeep Sardesai countered d Mohamed’s criticism by claiming that Rohit has won multiple IPL titles as a captain and leads the best white-ball team in the world. "Most ‘unimpressive’ captain India has ever had @drshamamohd ? Really ma’am, where did that completely bizarre remark come from? I have played a little cricket and can tell you purely as a long time observer that @ImRo45 makes some first class decisions that shows he has a SUPERB cricket brain. He has won multiple IPL titles as captain and has led a white ball team that’s the best in the world," Sardesai wrote. 

"IMHO, Rohit Sharma has been a wonderful captain for Team India, someone who leads from the front and plays a fearless brand of cricket in white ball games," he added.

Responding to Sardesai, Shama defended her remarks on Rohit Sharma by highlighting Team India captan's perfromance in the Border-Gavaaskar Trophy. 

Even Pakistani journalist Abdul Gaffar came in support of Sharma. Responding to Gaffar's X post, Mohamed wrote, "What is so world class about him when compared to his predecessors like Ganguly, Tendulkar, Dravid, Dhoni, Kohli , Kapil dev, Shastri & the rest! He is a mediocre captain as well as a mediocre player who got lucky to be the Captain of India."

Shama Mohamed defends Her Remarks:

However, despite criticism, the Congress spokesperson remained defiant. Defending her comments, Mohammed denied body-shaming Rohit Sharma and said that she felt he was a bit overweight. Speaking to ANI she said, "It was a generic tweet about the fitness of a sportsperson. It was not body-shaming. I always believed a sportsperson should be fit, and I felt he was a bit overweight, so I just tweeted about that. I have been attacked for no reason. When I compared him with previous captains, I put in a statement. I have the right. What is wrong in saying? It is a democracy..." 

Notably, Mohamed made the controversial remarks during the India-New Zealand Champions Trophy match.