During a campaign rally on April 19, 2024, Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami’s entry into the Lok Sabha elections caught attention. Surprisingly, Mohammed Shami has not affiliated with any political party nor has he declared any intention to contest in the elections.

In a rally addressing the support for BJP candidate Kanwar Singh Tanwar in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi applauded Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami. Several news agencies posted videos of his speech on their social media handles.

“Amroha not only beats the drum but also resonates with the country,” PM Modi stated during his speech. Social media users reacted with various comments to the viral video. PM Modi said, “The whole world witnessed the remarkable performance of Mohammed Shami in the Cricket World Cup. For his outstanding performance in sports, the central government has awarded Mohammed Shami with the Arjuna Award. Yogi Ji’s government is also progressing, building stadiums for the youth here. I extend my congratulations to the people of Amroha.”

Comments poured in on the video. Some users interpreted PM Modi’s praise as a call to vote for BJP. Others questioned the relevance of Shami’s achievements to political support. More comments can be found below the video.