A 19-second video, purportedly showing Indian men’s cricket team captain Rohit Sharma receiving a warm welcome on a runway after stepping out from a plane, has gone viral on social media with users claiming that it was taken from Pakistan, which is hosting the ongoing Champions Trophy, along with the UAE, between February 19 and March 9. The much-anticipated India versus Pakistan clash is scheduled for Sunday (February 23).
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Fact Check
Newschecker learnt that although Pakistan is the official host nation of the event, India will play all their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches in Dubai after India refused to travel to Pakistan for the mega event, having not played any cricket in the country since the 2008 Asia Cup. The India-Pakistan match is set to be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, thereby indicating that the viral video is not from Pakistan.
We ran a keyword search for “Rohit Sharma Pakistan welcome airport,” which did not lead us to any credible news reports about the captain or the team in Pakistan.
We then ran a reverse image search of keyframes, which led us to a similar video, uploaded on X on October 3, 2024, well before the Champions Trophy, stating that it was taken in Rashin, Maharashtra.
A further search led us to a video live-streamed by the official Youtube account of the office of Rohit Pawar on October 3, 2024. The video features a poster at the beginning, inviting Sharma to lay the foundation stone for the Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Cricket Stadium and Sports Complex, in association with Sharma’s CricKingdom academy, in the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency on October 3, 2024. Rohit Pawar, nephew of deputy CM Ajit Pawar, is the MLA from the constituency. A similar video can be seen here, stating that it shows Sharma in Rashin, which is in Karjat.
We also came across a Free Press Journal report, dated October 3, 2024, stating Sharma inaugurated a cricket academy in Karjat and assured fans gathered at the event that this brand-new facility in Maharashtra will produce the next generation of superstars.
“The foundation stone of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex was laid in Karjat-Jamkhed. Jamkhed MLA and MCA President Rohit Pawar said that a new sports complex has been built to encourage talent in rural areas. Rohit Sharma, who came for its foundation-stone laying ceremony, interacted with the fans in Marathi. A large number of youth and sports persons had gathered at Rashin for the foundation stone laying ceremony,” read a Navarashtra report in Hindi, dated October 3, 2024, which further confirms that the viral video is not from Pakistan.
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Conclusion
Old video of Rohit Sharma arriving in Maharashtra to lay the foundation stone for a sports complex falsely shared as Indian men’s cricket team captain arriving in Pakistan for the ongoing Champions Trophy.
Sources
Youtube video, Office of Rohit Pawar, October 3, 2024
Navarashtra Times report, October 3, 2024
