Last Updated:
Rohit Sharma’s coach Dinesh Lad condemned Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed’s fat-shaming remarks, calling them damaging to India’s image.
Rohit Sharma, the Indian Test and ODI captain. (Image: Sportzpics)
Rohit Sharma‘s childhood coach Dinesh Lad feels that fat-shaming the Indian men’s cricket captain is ‘really shameful’ and ‘damages the country’s image’.
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed made a distasteful remark during India’s 2025 Champions Trophy match against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. She took to X to blatantly call Rohit ‘fat’ as well as India’s most ‘unimpressive’ captain, leading to widespread criticism and social media uproar.
“A cricketer who is doing so well for the nation, under whom the team is playing very well. Such comments against that player are not at all good. By this, you are also damaging the country’s image. This is really shameful,” Lad, who guided Rohit in his early years as a cricketer in Mumbai, told news agency IANS.
Shama has since deleted the social media post.
“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course, the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had,” she had written.
Former India cricketer Surinder Khanna also called such comments ‘stupid’. He said Rohit has a different body type which hasn’t changed throughout his career, nor has affected his abilities.
“We all know Rohit (Sharma) from day one; you can see his photos since his younger days, and there is not much change – (in) cricketing, fitness and looks are deceptive. He has got plenty of runs with that body weight. These things shouldn’t be brought up; he is captaining India, and we should respect him,” Khanna told IANS.
“Everyone has his own body structure, some people are lean framed while some have broad bodies. I would not give much attention to it…You don’t have the right to ridicule or criticise somebody. He is the captain of India and has been playing international cricket for the last 16-17 years,” he added.
Rohit is in Dubai and attended a press conference on Monday, the eve of the high-octane semi-final clash against Australia. Having led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title and the final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, the skipper would be aiming to add a second Champions Trophy to his heavy trophy cabinet.
