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India great Gavaskar backs Rohit after fat-shaming row

AFP | New Delhi 

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Batting great Sunil Gavaskar backed India skipper Rohit Sharma after a fat-shaming post by an Indian politician, saying cricket is about skill not “modelling”.

Rohit’s India beat Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final on Tuesday in Dubai but a social media comment on the Indian captain’s bodyweight overshadowed the build-up.

Shama Mohamed, A spokeswoman for India’s opposition Congress party, posted on X: “Rohit Sharma is fat for a sportsman! Need to lose weight! And of course the most unimpressive Captain India has ever had!.”

Mohamed came under fire for the post -- later deleted -- from media, pundits and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

“I have always said, if you want only slim guys, then you should go to a modelling competition and pick all the models. It’s not about that,” Gavaskar told India Today.

Gavaskar spoke about how Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan had also been “vilified” for his weight issues, but said it was performances that mattered.

“I don’t think size has anything to do with it,” said Gavaskar.