New Delhi: India skipper Rohit Sharma, who has been receiving a barrage of praises all around the globe for leading the Indian team to T20 World Cup glory recently in Barbados, got struck with a boiling controversy as the appreciation juggernaut came to a halt when he updated his profile picture on social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter). Rohit has been at the centerstage getting all the deserved love, affection, and respect except Monday, July 8.
Amidst all the plaudits heaped on the Men in Blue, the captain drew criticism from fans on social media when he changed his profile picture on Monday evening. The fans didn’t like the photo that Rohit chose and accused him of disrespecting the Indian flag. The snap was from India’s overjoyed celebrations when emotions flowed heavily in each of the players and Rohit took the Indian flag and planted it at the Kensington Oval in Barbados – a patriotic moment indeed.
However, a certain section of fans hooked their eyes to the flag touching the ground as the flag’s pole was short due to which it occurred. The incident didn’t bring any criticism then (June 29) but the opposite happened when Rohit decided to put the snap as his profile picture, among many other iconic moments of India’s T20 World Cup triumph.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/aDJFxW8783
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) July 8, 2024
Mistaking patriotism?
While it was clear that Rohit wanted to showcase India’s overseas dominance on the cricket field and their triumph at the marquee ICC event, a few of social media users perceived it as an inappropriate tactic on a foreign land because the act signifies ownership of that territory. But the main issue remained the state of the Indian flag which touched the ground in the photo.
A few even highlighted a clause from the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 which reads, “The flag shall not be allowed intentionally to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water”.
Shame on Rohit Sharma for disrespecting my beautiful national flag 👎 https://t.co/XQmVaDlm4e pic.twitter.com/MGh22JuFYV
— “ (@KohlifiedGal) July 8, 2024
flag code of India
Part – III ,section – IV, 3.20
“The flag shall not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water”
it comes under incorrect display
Please @ImRo45 don’t disrespect the Indian flag !
I tweeted this the same day we won , but deleted the tweet https://t.co/lrIKHRVGgw
— Reddit_user (@reddit_user_) July 8, 2024
The Flag shall not be allowed to touch the ground or the floor. According to the law that person punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine. https://t.co/RXG99DroGZ pic.twitter.com/LrUzjShWp5
— Lordgod 🚩™ (@LordGod188) July 8, 2024
If someone had done this in India, people would have screamed about disrespecting the home soil. This was over the top and unnecessary. Many Indians cried about Marsh and the cup though… https://t.co/a0JXc45xLo
— Rahul Warrier (@rahulw_) July 8, 2024
Rohit also notably ate a speck of soil from the Barbados pitch, another moment that caught several people’s attention, which was a mark of respect towards the land on which India triumphed. Rohit, who retired from T20Is after the gigantic win, said that the moment of winning was very special which led him to scrap off a few bits of the pitch. “Those moments are very, very special. And the place where all our dreams came true, I wanted something of it. That was the feeling behind it,” Rohit said.
Rohit Sharma drew flak after updating his profile picture on “X” as the netizens accused him of disrespecting the Indian flag, creating a controversy. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
