Did Rohit Sharma Unfollow SRH? Viral Buzz After Abrar Ahmed Signing Explained
Speculation has been rife on social media about Rohit Sharma unfollowing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) after the franchise's latest move in The Hundred. The rumors took flight following SRH's sister franchise Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed during the tournament's maiden auction.
Abrar was bought at an amount of 190,000 pounds (approximately Rs 2.34 crore). The move instantly ignited intense debate among fans. The primary contention points were why an IPL-franchise-owned team will sign a Pakistan national considering no player from Pakistan has played in the IPL since 2009.
Amidst the controversy, certain users on social media went on to claim that Rohit unfollowed SRH on Instagram. There were similar rumors about Mumbai Indians also doing the same. But with no concrete proof available to ascertain both claims, the controversy remains unresolved.
As on March 16, Rohit Sharma follows 112 accounts on Instagram. He is following only one IPL franchise apart from the team he represents - Mumbai Indians. Considering that, it's hard to gauge if he ever followed SRH in the past. Hence, the circulating tweet cannot be verified.
The Former Indian captain does have a past connection with Hyderabad in cricketing terms as he had represented Deccan Chargers from 2008 to 2010. But the team is not in existence anymore, and SRH is owned by a separate entity, Chennai-based Sun Group.
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Abrar Signing Sparks Debate Across Cricket World
The real issue concerning SRH's sister franchise lies with the signing of Abrar by Sunrisers Leeds, who play in the Hundred and are part of the former through ownership.
Sun Group recently bought Sunrisers Leeds (formerly Northern Superchargers) after acquiring 49% from England and Wales Cricket Board and 51% from Yorkshire at an estimated £100 million.
SRH head coach Daniel Vettori was vocal in his explanation for signing the Pakistan spinner.
"We were on the lookout for a spinner, and when Adil Rashid was unavailable, Abrar seemed like the best option for us on that evening."
There were prior reports that indicated that franchises owned by IPL teams would desist from signing Pakistani cricketers; early in the auction, it appeared to be the case but Abrar's signing changed the game and sparked debates across the cricket world.
England and Wales Cricket Board has stated that selections in The Hundred auction are made on the basis of 'cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.'
While debates around Rohit Sharma unfollowing SRH continue, for now, they remain merely social media talking points until proven.