Trinamool Congress MP Sougata Ray has backed Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed’s controversial remarks about India captain Rohit Sharma. Ray told news agency IANS that he agreed with Mohamed’s assessment of Sharma’s performance.

"It is true that Rohit Sharma’s performance has been quite poor. He scored one century, but apart from that, he gets out after scoring just a few runs. He should not be on the team," Ray said. "India wins because the other players perform well, but the captain does not contribute," he added.

Mohamed faced backlash after fat-shaming Sharma in a post on X. She called him "fat for a sportsman" and "the most unimpressive captain India has ever had." She later deleted the post following criticism.

The Congress party distanced itself from her remarks. Party leader Pawan Khera issued a statement clarifying that Mohamed’s views did not reflect the party’s position.

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"Dr. Shama Mohamed, National Spokesperson of the Indian National Congress, made certain remarks about a cricketing legend that do not reflect the party’s position. She has been asked to delete the concerned posts and advised to exercise greater caution in the future. The Indian National Congress holds sporting icons in the highest regard and does not endorse any statements that undermine their legacy," Khera said.

Rohit Sharma became Team India’s captain in 2023. He led the team to victory in the T20 World Cup last year and secured two Asia Cup titles. In the Indian Premier League, he has a stellar record with five championship wins for Mumbai Indians.

Meanwhile, in cricket action, India scored 249/9 in their latest match. Shreyas Iyer top-scored with 79 runs, while Axar Patel added 42, Hardik Pandya 45, and KL Rahul 23. New Zealand’s Matt Henry took five wickets. Despite Kane Williamson’s efforts, India’s bowlers dominated. Varun Chakravarthy claimed five wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav took two. New Zealand was bowled out for 205 in 45.3 overs.