Sunil Gavaskar, the esteemed former cricketer from India, has emphasized that cricket fundamentally revolves around mental fortitude, asserting that a player's physical appearance is often irrelevant to their performance. This statement comes in light of recent comments made by Congress's Shama Mohamed, who referred to Rohit Sharma as “fat.” Gavaskar articulated that the ability to bat effectively and accumulate runs is what truly counts, rendering other considerations insignificant.

"I have consistently maintained that if the preference is solely for slim individuals, one should attend a modelling competition and select from the models. It is not about that," Gavaskar remarked during an interview with India Today.

"It is about one's capability to play cricket. We have discussed Sarfaraz Khan, who faced criticism for his weight for an extended period. However, if he manages to score 150 runs for India in a Test match and follows it up with two or three additional scores exceeding fifty runs, what is the problem?" 

"I believe that size is not a determining factor. What truly matters is mental resilience—whether one can endure the challenges of the game. The key is to bat effectively, bat for an extended period, and score runs," concluded the former captain of the Indian cricket team.

Shama Mohamed's comments spark a row

Shama Mohamed expressed her views in a now-deleted post on X, stating, "Rohit Sharma is overweight for an athlete! He needs to shed some pounds! Additionally, he is undoubtedly the least impressive captain India has ever had!" 

In a subsequent post, she drew comparisons between Sharma and previous captains of the Indian cricket team, labelling him as a “mediocre” player and leader. She remarked, “What distinguishes him as world-class when juxtaposed with his predecessors? He is an average captain and an average player who merely stumbled into the role of captain for India.”

Her remarks faced widespread criticism, prompting the Congress party to distance itself from Mohamed. Pawan Khera, head of the media and publicity department for the Indian National Congress, stated, "The Indian National Congress deeply respects the contributions of sporting icons and does not support any comments that diminish their legacy."

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