‘You are harming the nation’s reputation’: Rohit Sharma's early mentor on fat-shaming issue

Synopsis

Dinesh Lad, childhood coach of Rohit Sharma, criticized fat-shaming comments aimed at the Indian captain, stating that such remarks tarnish the nation's reputation. Following a controversial post by Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed, reactions surged, prompting her to delete the comment. Lad emphasized the importance of respecting athletes who represent the country.

Key Takeaways

Dinesh Lad condemns fat-shaming remarks.
Shama Mohamed's comment sparked controversy.
Rohit Sharma's performance remains under scrutiny.
India topped Group A after defeating New Zealand.
Upcoming matches highlight the tournament's intensity.

New Delhi, March 3 (NationPress) Rohit Sharma's childhood coach Dinesh Lad emphasized that making fat-shaming remarks about the Indian captain "damages the image of the country".

The controversy erupted after Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed made an inappropriate comment during India's Champions Trophy final Group A match against New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday. The Congress spokesperson took to X to openly label the Indian skipper as "fat".

“Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! He needs to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had,” Shama wrote in a post on X which she later removed following significant backlash.

Shama's remarks about Rohit sparked strong reactions from various sectors, escalating into a major controversy. Consequently, the Congress party instructed Shama to delete her social media post regarding Rohit.

“A cricketer who is performing excellently for the nation, under whose leadership the team is excelling. Such comments against that player are wholly inappropriate. By doing this, you are also harming the nation's reputation. This is truly shameful,” Lad told IANS.

So far in the ongoing tournament, Rohit remains the only top-order Indian batsman yet to score a half-century, with Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer showcasing impressive form. The 37-year-old has accumulated 76 runs across three innings.

Thanks to Varun Chakaravarthy's five-wicket haul, India triumphed over New Zealand by 44 runs and secured the top position in Group A. They will now face Australia in the first semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday. Meanwhile, New Zealand will compete against South Africa in another semi-final in Lahore on Wednesday.