Vidya Balan’s team responds to claims of sponsored tweet supporting Rohit Sharma

Actress's team states the post is genuine admiration for Rohit Sharma's grace.

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Bollywood actress Vidya Balan has responded to mounting speculation over a tweet she posted in support of Indian cricketer Rohit Sharma.

The tweet, which praised Rohit Sharma for stepping back from the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has sparked accusations of it being part of a public relations (PR) campaign to boost his image.

Vidya Balan had shared her admiration for Rohit Sharma's decision, writing, “To take a pause & catch your breath requires courage … More power to you … Respect!! ”.

Photo: ScreenGrab

However, many social media users immediately questioned the authenticity of the gesture, with some labelling it a PR stunt.

The debate intensified after X (formerly Twitter) flagged the post with a "Community Notes" message suggesting that it might be an undisclosed sponsored post, which would be a violation of platform rules. This message was later removed.

Further fuelling the controversy, a Reddit post claimed that Vidya Balan had shared a screenshot of the tweet, which was allegedly sent to her by Rohit Sharma’s PR team, before quickly deleting it.

In response to the accusations, Vidya Balan’s team issued a statement clarifying that the actress had posted the tweet entirely on her own, out of genuine admiration for Rohit Sharma’s “selfless act”.

The statement further emphasised that Vidya Balan, although not a sports enthusiast, has great respect for individuals who display dignity under difficult circumstances.

“To attribute her actions to anything other than a spontaneous reaction to something she found admirable is completely preposterous,” the statement read.

This controversy follows reports of Rohit Sharma’s potential retirement from Test cricket, which had circulated after his absence from the final Border-Gavaskar Test match.

Actor Farhan Akhtar also expressed his support for Rohit Sharma earlier that day, sharing a message that read, “You’re a superstar. You know what you’re doing and I know you won’t let the negativity get to you. I just want to thank you for showing the world that you prioritise the team over the individual. It’s a tough decision, and only those with the strongest minds and hearts can make it. That’s what defines a great leader. See you back on the field soon.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Farhan Akhtar (@faroutakhtar)

However, many users noted that neither Vidya Balan nor Farhan Akhtar follows Rohit Sharma on social media.

Rohit Sharma’s choice to step down as captain for the fifth Test has sparked debate among fans and cricket experts.