During IPL 2020 RCB vs Kings XI Punjab innings, when Kohli was dismissed, Gavaskar came up with a surprising comment involving Anushka, Kohli’s wife.
The IPL fever is on and we can't help but look back at one of the biggest controversies of last year's cash-rich league's season where legendary former cricketer and IPL commentator Sunil Gavaskar passed a rather 'sexist' remark against Bollywood actor and wife of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) captain Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma after the franchise lost by 97 runs to Kings XI Punjab and Kohli gave a rather dismal performance.
Here's how things unfolded.
1. Sunil Gavaskar's controversial remark against Anushka Sharma about Virat Kohli's poor performance
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It was during the IPL 2020 RCB vs King XI Punjab innings that commentator Sunil Gavaskar while referring to a viral video of the couple, had said that Kohli's only practice during the COVID-19 lockdown was facing wife Anushka Sharma's bowling. The RCB side gave a rather disappointing performance and captain Kohli's performance too was nothing that could be appreciated. It was during a discussion with fellow commentators about how because of COVID-19, players did not get to practice much that the former Indian opener made a snide remark involving Anushka that many thought was in poor taste.
When Kohli was dismissed, Gavaskar came up with a surprising comment involving Anushka Sharma, Kohli’s wife. The former skipper 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)
2. Not the first time Anushka Sharma was blamed for Virat Kohli's poor performance
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This wasn't the first time that the actress and wife to RCB skipper Virat Kohli, had to face the wrath of criticism on social media for the franchise and in particular Kohli's poor display. However, things went a little too far when former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar too joined the team of internet trolls to make a 'distasteful' remark against Anushka, blaming her for Kohli's performance.
3. Viral video of Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma that Sunil Gavaskar referred to
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The remark made by Sunil Gavaskar was in reference to a viral social media video from the lockdown phase that was apparently shot by a fan looking down from a neighbouring high-rise, purportedly showing Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma playing cricket in their front yard.
4. What did Anushka Sharma say?
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After several media outlets and social media users called out Sunil Gavaskar for his 'sexist', 'distasteful' remarks against Anushka Sharma, the actress too put up a long post on her Instagram Stories expressing disapproval of Gavaskar's comments. Anushka 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 of 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 an 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?" She added, "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."
5. Sunil Gavaskar denies being sexist
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After Anushka Sharma put up a long post expressing her disapproval of his snide remarks against her, Sunil Gavaskar finally responded to the allegations made against him that he was being sexist. "As you hear from the commentary, Aakash and I were doing commentary for the Hindi channel," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by multiple outlets. "And Aakash was talking about the fact that there has been very little chance for proper practice for everybody. That has actually shown in the rustiness of some of the players in their first matches." "Rohit didn’t strike the ball well in his first match, MSD didn’t strike the ball well, Virat also didn’t strike the ball. Most of the batsmen have because of the lack of practice. That was the point that was being made. Virat also had no practice and the only practice that he had was when we saw them playing in their building compound and Anushka was bowling to him. That’s what I said. That’s the only bowling, I have not used any other word. She was bowling to him, that’s all," he added.
"Where am I blaming her? Where am I being sexist in this? I am just stating what was seen in the video which was maybe recorded by somebody in the neighbouring buildings and then put up. That’s the only thing I am doing. The point I am trying to make is that there was no practice for anybody, including Virat in the lockdown. I am not being sexist. If somebody, has interpreted it, what can I do?"
"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?"
"Because after their working hours are over, they have to get back to their wives like every other common man does. So I am not blaming her," he concluded.
