Virat Kohli gets huge support in Virat-Trump controversy

The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia is currently drawing attention for a lot of wrong reasons. Cricket on the field has been eclipsed by constant controversies, banters and jabs off the field, the latest one being targeted at Indian skipper Virat Kohli.

Since he came into office, American President Donald Trump has grabbed eyeballs the world over for his controversial remarks regarding what he calls ‘fake news’. The Australian media, therefore, thought it fit to dub Virat ‘the Donald Trump of world sport’ since he has an inclination towards ‘spreading fake news’ about the Australian players.

The ‘Daily Telegraph’ published an article that came down on Kohli for his baseless claims. Furthermore, it expressed a sense of disappointment that neither the BCCI nor the ICC has taken any action against his comments.

“Virat Kohli has become the Donald Trump of world sport,” the article read. “Just like President Trump, Kohli decided to blame themedia as a means of trying to hide the egg smeared right across his face.”

“The Indian captain is a law unto himself with no one — not even the ICC or his own board — holding him accountable for his continual perpetuation of fake news,” the article also said.

Kohli was however backed up by Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan and former Australian skipper Michael Clarke. The Big B took to Twitter to poke fun of the Australian media thanking it ‘for accepting that he (Kohli) is a winner and the ‘President’’.

On the other hand, Michael Clarke, who has been in the commentary box from the first Test in Pune, mentioned that Kohli shouldn’t be ‘bothered’ by a bunch of Australian journalists who are looking to ‘tarnish his image’.

Clarke considered Virat’s comparison to Trump complete balderdash. In an exclusive interview with AajTak, Clarke said, “What Virat did, even Smith would have. Bear in mind, I love Kohli and the Australian public love him. I always somehow find an Australian in him the way he plays and I absolutely love how he accepts challenges. It’s just two or three reporters who are trying to tarnish him but Virat shouldn’t be bothered.”

He went on to add, “I don’t think even Steve Smith would bother about what the Australian media is saying. In fact both the captains would be telling their teams to concentrate on how to win in Dharamshala.”

The focus now shifts to Dharamshala, as both teams will lock horns in the HPCA Stadium for one the final time in this series, in what could well be the deciding Test match.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to the entire incident:

https://twitter.com/SirRohitSharma_/status/844448513727643652

Written by Subhankar Bhattacharya