Anushka Sharma has hit back at legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar for his comment against her husband Virat Kohli, during Thursday’s IPL match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab in Dubai. Royal Challengers Bangalore, who Kohli captains, lost the match by 97 runs.
Gavaskar, who was a commentator during the match, while discussing Kohli’s poor form during the game casually remarked: “Ab joh lockdown tha to sirf Anushka ki bowling ki practice ki unho ne, woh video dekhi hai. Usse to kuch nahi hona hai.”
Gavaskar was referring to a viral video of Anushka and Virat playing cricket in their building during the lockdown.
After Gavaskar’s comments went viral on social media, Anushka took to Instagram to express her disapproval and told the veteran cricketer that she just wanted to let him know how she felt.
“That, Mr Gavaskar, your message is distasteful is a fact,” said the actor. “But I would love for you to explain why you thought of making such a sweeping statement on a wife accusing her for her husband’s game? I’m sure over the years you have respected the private lives of every cricketer while commenting on the game. Don’t you think you should have equal amount of respect for me and us?”
She continued: “I’m sure you can have many other words and sentences in your mind to use to comment on my husband’s performance from last night or your words only relevant if you use my name in the process?”
“It’s 2020 and things still don’t change for me,” lamented the actor.
“When will I stop getting dragged into cricket and stop being used to pass sweeping statements?” she questioned.
Many on social media have expressed outrage and criticised Gavaskar for his comments, with many of Kohli’s fans demanding the veteran cricketer be removed from the commentary panel. On the other hand, there are others who are of the opinion that Gavaskar’s comments were not out of line or sexist. What they don’t understand is that it is unbecoming of seniors and people of such high stature to pass personal comments like these – they are absolutely unnecessary and serve no purpose.
Following Anushka’s post, Gavaskar while speaking to an Indian media outlet asserted that he had not blamed Anushka and there was no sexist tone to his comment as well.
“Firstly, I would like to say it again. Where am I blaming her? I am not blaming her,” said the former captain of the Indian Cricket Team. “I am only saying that the video said that she was bowling to Virat. Virat has played only that bowling during the lockdown period. It’s a tennis ball, a fun game that people have to pass time during the lockdown. That’s all. Where am I blaming her for Virat’s failures?”
“You know me, I am the one who has always batted for wives going with husbands on tour. I am the one that a normal guy going to the office for a 9-5 job, when he comes back home, he comes back to his wife. Similarly, cricketers, when they go out for a tour or even when they are playing at home, why can’t they have their wives with them?” he added.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time Anushka is being trolled for Virat’s poor performance on the field. Every time the cricketer stumbles in the game, Anushka is at the receiving end of criticism. While she has usually maintained silence on the trolling, this time she decided not to keep quiet. Fans have also brought back a statement issued by Anushka earlier to dismiss claims of favouritism and the tasteless trolling.
Virat had also defended Anushka on social media when the trolling got intense.
