Off-field controversy: Vidya defends support for Rohit, responds to social media backlash

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan recently made headlines after publicly backing Rohit Sharma’s decision to withdraw from the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar series against Australia. Amidst Rohit's poor form, pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah confirmed that the cricketer chose to step away from the team. Vidya’s comments sparked a major debate on social media, with some speculating that her support was driven by her PR team.

In the wake of her tweet praising Rohit, social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with posts of appreciation. However, some users accused Vidya of using the moment as a 'PR stunt.' Community Notes on X even suggested that her post seemed to be sponsored, though these notes were later removed. The note stated, "Vidya Balan's post appears to be an undisclosed sponsored content, violating X's Terms of Service. Sponsored posts must be transparently disclosed, according to the platform's guidelines. Evidence of this includes a deleted Instagram post from the actress."

In response to the growing controversy, Vidya’s official team has clarified that her post was entirely her own decision and not influenced by her PR team. The statement explained, "Vidya posted her thoughts of her own accord. She is not a die-hard sports fan but deeply admires those who show grace and class in difficult situations. To misinterpret her genuine response as something else is disrespectful."

Vidya’s tweet, which praised Rohit, had prompted some to question whether the actress was merely echoing a PR-driven sentiment. Several critics pointed out that Vidya does not follow Rohit on social media, suggesting that her tweet was part of a strategic move. It was also noted that she had initially shared a screenshot of her tweet but later deleted it.

Despite the criticisms, Vidya’s team emphasized that her support for Rohit was both spontaneous and sincere, free from any external influence.

The debate over Vidya’s remarks came as other figures from the cricket world, including coach Gambhir, also expressed admiration for Rohit’s decision. However, despite Rohit's absence from the final Test, India was unable to secure victory. The team lost to Australia, which led to India not only losing the series but also missing out on a spot in the World Test Championship final.