For a change, Virat Kohli earns the wrath of the media

To say that he’s a great batsman would be like stating doctors are life-savers. Team India in trouble, who do you turn to? The answer is simple, Virat Kohli. His form in the series against the West Indies has been menacing, to say the least. Only recently did Virat Kohli become the world’s fastest batsman to reach the landmark figures of 10,000 ODI runs.

He’s already branded as the group leader of the world’s famous quartet of the best current batsmen in the game, an exciting lot that includes him, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Steven Smith.

Having said that, it seems, it’s only a matter of time before Virat Kohli- 62 international hundreds at the age of 30- goes past the great Sachin Tendulkar’s record tally of 100 hundreds. But against such astonishing run-scoring, what comes across as a rather sad sight is the comment that Virat Kohli has recently made, a scenario that very quickly, has angered fans and upset many admirers of his batting.

It appears that Virat Kohli, on the eve of the launch of his own app, shared that those who happen to be in India but like batsmen of other countries, should move out of the country. Now, why would you say something like that?

Sharing some insights on this developing story, one that has engulfed the country at the present, popular media platform Network 18 shared the following:

After reading the comment, Kohli responded, “Okay, I don’t think you should live in India then… you should go and live somewhere else no. Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? I don’t mind you not liking me but I don’t think you should live in our country and like other things. Get your priorities right.”

So if it could be asked, what is your reaction to the remark made by Virat Kohli, who only days ago, turned 30?

While at the outset it might seem like a pretty daft remark to be made, from the inside it does point to a question. Does Virat actually feel so? Furthermore, it appears to have placed at the heart of cricket the eternal question of nation-love and patriotism.

When Sachin Tendulkar was at the peak of his greatness, at a time where there were legends like Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting, and Jack Kallis, did appreciating or being a fan of either of them or of Brian Lara considered silly or an act of backstabbing one’s country of allegiance?

Cricketers themselves are huge admirers of those who are often their fiercest rivals or opponents. We’ve seen in India, a country to which Kohli belongs, one captained by the dashing right-handed run machine, the sheer madness, and love for batsmen like AB De Villiers and Chris Gayle. We’ve seen in England appreciation for Kane Williamson and we also know that someone like a Joe Root is regarded with great appreciation wherever the English batsman goes.

Against this narrative, the comments- truthfully shared by Indian cricket captain- seem not only a bit irrational but also indicative of a batsman, regardless of his greatness, who needs to possibly measure his words for they come from the side of a man who represents one of contemporary cricket’s strongest and most admired sides. Was it really worth it, Virat?