This isn't the first time Anushka Sharma's name has been dragged and she been blamed for Virat Kohli's poor performance. Earlier too, sexist, vile and demeaning words and remarks have been made against the star.
As Virat Kohli's team Royal Challengers Bangalore lost the match to Kings XI Punjab by a massive 97 runs, actress and wife to the franchise's skipper Anushka Sharma was once again at the receiving end of the wrath of social media users for RCB and in particular Kohli's poor performance.
However, things started to look even more ugly when former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar too joined the team of internet trolls to make a 'distasteful' remark against Anushka, blaming her for Kohli performance. While on commentary duties, opining on Kohli`s poor form during the match, the former Indian opener made a snide remark involving Anushka that many thought was in poor taste. Gavaskar remarked, “Inhone lockdown me to bas Anushka ki gendon ki practice ki hain". (Virat Kohli has only trained against Anushka’s balls during the lockdown).
Later, Anushka took to Instagram Stories and posted a long note expressing disapproval over Gavaskar`s comment.
She wrote: "That, Mr Gavaskar, your message is distasteful is a fact 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?" "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. When will I stop getting dragged into cricket and stop being used to pass sweeping statements?"
"Respected Mr. Gavaskar, you are a legend whose name stands tall in this gentleman`s game. Just wanted to tell you what I felt when I heard you say this."
This isn't the first time Anushka's name has been dragged and she been blamed for Kohli's poor performance. Earlier too, sexist, vile and demeaning words and remarks have been made against the star.
Here's a look at all the times when the B-town diva faced backlash from social media users for Virat's poor form and performance over the years.
1. IPL 2020
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Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar's shocking statement involving Anushka when Kohli was dismissed for just one run as he top-edged a short ball from Sheldon Cottrell in a amtch against King XI Punjab at the ongoing IPL 2020, was in extremely poor taste.
“Inhone lockdown me to bas Anushka ki gendon ki practice ki hain". (Virat Kohli has only trained against Anushka’s balls during the lockdown)," Gavaskar said while on commentary duties.
Social media users have urged the BCCI to drop him from commentary duties.
2. World Cup semifinals in 2019 against New Zealand
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Anushka faced the ire of netizens after Virat Kohli led Indian team lost the World Cup semifinals in 2019 against New Zealand. As before, she was at the receiving end of criticism and hate from social media users.
3. RCB's poor performance in 2018
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In 2018, even when the franchise had won just two games at the half-mark, supporters rooted for the team with great enthusiasm. However, the team's performance was one of the worst throughout which agitated fans who then targeted Anushka Sharma for RCB’s poor performances.
According to them, the Bangalore team lost every tie when the Bollywood diva made an appearance in the stands. She was blamed to such an extent that fans even urged her to miss the remaining fixtures while the faceless troll army roasted her mercilessly.
Social media users also asked Kohli to part ways with saying presence in the stadium brings bad luck to the team.
4. South Africa-India Test series in Cape Town
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Back in 2018, social media users made scathing comments about actress Anushka Sharma after team India captain Virat Kohli failed to make runs in the first innings (he registered a score of 5) of the first test during the South Africa-India Test series in Cape Town. Coincidentally, it was the first game after Kohli tied the knot with Anushka Sharma.
5. India vs Australia, ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
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Anushka met with similar barrage of criticism as she was blamed for Virat’s poor performance in the 2015 ICC ODI World Cup semifinal. The now team India skipper's failure against Australia in the semi-final was fodder enough for netizens to make slanderous comments against the actress on Twitter.
