Virat Kohli’s decision to take paternity leave amidst India’s tour of Australia has created a lot of buzz lately. The mighty Indians fell on their face while facing the full force of Australia’s bowling in the first pink-ball Test at Adelaide. To add on to their sorrows, skipper Virat Kohli will be missing from the Indian squad for the remaining three Tests. The 32-year-old has already departed for India to be with his pregnant wife Anushka Sharma for the birth of their first child in January.
Also Read | Virat Kohli Had Some Inspiring Words For His Team Before Leaving For India
Sunil Gavaskar slams down team India’s hypocrisy
India’s legend Sunil Gavaskar recently penned down a column for Sportstar. The veteran batsman took a dig at Virat Kohli’s decision to leave his team in between the on-going “Border Gavaskar” series. Gavaskar indicated that there is a string of impartiality experienced in the current Indian dressing room. While some dignities like Virat Kohli are handed the upper hand, players like Ravichandran Ashwin and T Natarajan can find themselves running out of favors.
71-year-old Gavaskar claimed that T Natarajan was apparently “forced” to stay back with team India as a net bowler following his exceptional performance in the limited-overs format. Gavaskar added that T Natarajan had to miss the birth of his daughter as he was asked to delay his trip to India.
“A match-winner, albeit in another format, being asked to be a net bowler. He will thus return home only after the series ends in the third week of January and get to see his daughter for the first time then. And there is the captain going back after the first Test for the birth of his first child. That’s Indian cricket. Different rules for different people. If you don’t believe me ask Ravi Ashwin and T. Natarajan,” Gavaskar wrote.
Also Read | India In Australia: Five Controversies That Shook The Cricketing World
Netizens take a hit at Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar clearly took a jab at Virat Kohli and some of the Indian skipper’s fans were in a disagreement with the 1983 World Cup-winning ace. Fans of the 32-year-old batsman gave it back to Sunil Gavaskar on Twitter for his presumptuous comments on team India and Kohli.
Twitter reactions on Sunil Gavaskar’s column
Fellow Mumbaikar, Rohit Sharma missed a test match in Australia for the same reason as Kohli..
Did Mr. Gavaskar question him or the BCCI rules? 😛 It’s sheer hatred..
It is a one-off situation.. Quarantine Rules in Aus, made it, a longer breakhttps://t.co/KAQRTpo4ne
— Satish (@perfect_indian) December 24, 2020
Gavaskar again goes after #ViratKohli. His serial backing of Mumbaikar Rohit Sharma against the Delhi-ite Kohli is now both ferocious and heightened. Don’t understand the #Delhi players still shying away from calling it out. #cricket #bias #remember #KapilDev
— Keep It Simple (@profdrumroll) December 24, 2020
Disagree with Gavaskar.
No one is forcing Natarajan to bowl in the nets. He realizes it’s a stepping stone for him.
Kohli deciding to go back is a personal choice. Cricket is his profession, a part of life, not his entire life. If that renders him unfit to play, sure, fire him. https://t.co/cr1QUw3kGc
— Kartikeya Tanna (@KartikeyaTanna) December 24, 2020
Twitter comes in support of Sunil Gavaskar
However, many also backed Sunil Gavaskar’s point over the “Virat Kohli paternity leave” saga.
I think Sunil gavaskar is right which they wrote about in natarajan and virat kohli
In indian team, the rules and leaves are vary among different person or player— Palak Parashar (@PalakParashar5) December 24, 2020
Every once in a while Gavaskar speaks bluntly & boldly. One of the few that still do. Even Kapil Dev plays safe. High time Kohli is fired as LOI skipper and Rohit brought in ASAP. Cannot afford any more losses.
— కార్తిక్ (@karthiknyc) December 24, 2020
Yes, Mr. Gavaskar is right. Kohli going back for the birth of his first child is emotional, manh current players does that. However considering the loss we had in first test, he should have stayed back with the team and help leveling the series.
— Naveen Shandilya (@ShandilyaNaveen) December 24, 2020
