“One Thing Hurt Me…”: Aakash Chopra Reacts to Rohit Sharma Fat-Shaming Controversy

Former cricketer questions Shama Mohamed’s remarks on Rohit’s captaincy, highlights his leadership achievements.

March 7, 2025: “One Thing Hurt Me…”: Aakash Chopra Responds to Rohit Sharma Fat-Shaming Controversy

Former cricketer defends Rohit Sharma, questions Shama Mohamed’s comments on his captaincy.

New Delhi: Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Congress leader Shama Mohamed’s remarks on Rohit Sharma, particularly the fat-shaming and criticism of his leadership.

Also Read: “If the Captain Leads Fearlessly, the Team Follows”: Gambhir Praises Rohit Sharma’s Aggressive Batting

Ahead of India’s Champions Trophy 2025 semi-final against Australia, Shama Mohamed posted on social media that Rohit is “fat for a sportsperson” and “the most unimpressive captain”. However, after India’s victory over Australia, she backtracked on her criticism and praised Rohit’s leadership—but not before her comments stirred a massive online debate.

Chopra Questions Criteria for Judging Rohit’s Captaincy

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra shared his disappointment over Shama’s remarks.

“I read a statement from Shama Mohamed ji. She probably deleted the tweet, so I could only see a screenshot. I hope I saw the right one. The one thing that hurt me was calling Rohit ‘the most unimpressive captain’ for India,” Chopra said.

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He argued that a captain’s greatness should be judged by his achievements and not by personal perceptions.

“Judge a Captain by His Achievements”

Citing Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, Chopra emphasized how some leaders bring game-changing impact to their teams.

“How do you define an impressive captain? Arjuna Ranatunga was a cult figure in Sri Lanka. He changed the face of Sri Lankan cricket. He lifted the trophy in 1996. That is how you judge leadership,” he stated.

Rohit’s Influence on India’s Approach Post-2022 T20 World Cup

Chopra also credited Rohit Sharma for changing India’s approach to white-ball cricket following their 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to England.

“After that loss, India realized they needed a different brand of cricket. Since then, Rohit Sharma has led the team differently, and you will judge him based on that impact,” Chopra pointed out.

Three ICC Finals, One Loss – Unimpressive?

Chopra further defended Rohit by highlighting his remarkable captaincy record in ICC tournaments.

“Since then, there have been three ICC events—an ODI World Cup, a T20 World Cup, and now the Champions Trophy. He has lost just one game as captain. Is that unimpressive?” he questioned.

With India set to play yet another ICC final, Rohit Sharma’s leadership remains a talking point, but his results speak for themselves.

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