Days after leading Team India to an undefeated T20 World Cup victory, captain Rohit Sharma has found himself at the center of a controversy. Social media users have accused the star cricketer of disrespecting the Indian flag after he changed his profile picture on X. The new image, celebrating India’s win in the T20 World Cup final in Barbados, shows Rohit Sharma holding the national flag, but with a part of the tricolor touching the ground. This has ignited outrage online, with many pointing out that the flag should never be allowed to touch the ground, a widely accepted symbol of respect.
Several users took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their disappointment, citing a clause from the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The act specifically states that the Indian flag should not be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or floor. One user wrote, “The flag shall not be allowed intentionally to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water,” referencing the tenth clause of Section 2 of the Act.
Rohit Sharma and his team were hailed as heroes after their historic T20 World Cup win against South Africa in Barbados. The victory marked India’s first undefeated World Cup triumph and ended a 17-year wait for the coveted trophy. However, the controversy surrounding the profile picture has overshadowed the team’s achievement, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the national flag in India.