Fact Check: Did Rohit Sharma Unfollow Sunrisers Hyderabad after Abrar Ahmed Controversy?

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Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have been at the centre of controversy after its affiliated franchise, Sunrisers Leeds, signed Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 (approximately ₹2.34 crore) in The Hundred 2026 auction.

This marked one of the first major acquisitions of a Pakistani player by an Indian-owned team in an international league, igniting widespread backlash on social media.

Critics accused the franchise of insensitivity toward national sentiments amid India-Pakistan tensions, with calls for boycotts of SRH and demands to "ban" the team. Owner Kavya Maran faced personal trolling, with some labeling the move as "shameful" and questioning patriotism. An old social media post by Abrar was resurfaced and interpreted negatively, further fueling outrage.

Legendary commentator Sunil Gavaskar strongly condemned the decision, stating that such signings embarrass India and indirectly support activities harmful to the nation, as fees paid could contribute to opposing interests. He highlighted similar moves by other teams and urged sensitivity to public emotions.

The backlash intensified when Sunrisers Leeds' official X account was suspended shortly after the announcement, amid a flood of angry comments. While the franchise defended the signing as a cricket-based priority, the episode highlighted deep geopolitical divides in sports decisions. Abrar may even skip the tournament due to scheduling conflicts with Pakistan's commitments.

Rohit Sharma unfollows SRH on Instagram?

Amid this, fresh reports on social media have claimed that Rohit Sharma has unfollowed SRH on Instagram. The former India captain, who boasts 46.4 million followers on Instagram, is said to have unfollowed the SRH side after the Abrar Ahmed controversy.

Fact Check

But as per our understanding, there is no question of Rohit Sharma unfollowing Sunrisers as he was not even following them in the first place. Rohit was part of Deccan Chargers before joining Mumbai Indians. The Chargers underwent a change in ownership and were rechristened Sunrisers Hyderabad after that. But Rohit, apart from MI, doesn't follow any of the IPL teams.