Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has cleared the air around his comments about Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma, saying their statements were received incorrectly and that he never intended to be a “sexist”. Gavaskar generated controversy when on air, he made a comment about Kohli’s actor’s wife, Anushka. This was after Kohli dropped two catches and looked scratchy while hitting.
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This is what Gavaskar had said: “Ab jo confine tha toh unhone sirf Anushka ke saath bowling ki practice ki hai, usse toh kuch bhi nahi banna (During the confinement, he has only practiced against Anushka bowling. Nothing was going to come out of that .). ”
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It led to a Twitter crash with users criticizing Gavaskar for crossing a line. Anushka herself took to social media and expressed her disappointment at the comments through a post on Instagram.
Gavaskar on Friday voiced his side of the story, explaining how his comments were ‘twisted’ and everything he said regarding Kohli was due to the fact that none of India’s senior players were finding it easy to hit in the IPL. due to lack of match practice.
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As you will hear in the comment, Aakash and I were making comments for the Hindi channel. And Aakash was talking about the fact that there has been very little chance for everyone to practice properly. That in fact has been shown in the oxidation of some of the players in their first matches. Rohit didn’t hit the ball well in his first match, MSD didn’t hit the ball well, Virat didn’t hit the ball either. Most of the hitters have done it due to lack of practice, ”Gavaskar told India Today.
“That was the point that was being made. Virat also had no practice and the only practice they had when they saw them playing in their building compound and Anushka was bowling for him. That’s what I said. That’s the only bowling alley, I haven’t used any other words. I was bowling, that’s all. Where do I blame her? Where am I being sexist in this? I’m just saying what was seen on the video that maybe was recorded by someone in the neighboring buildings and then posted. That’s the only thing I’m doing. “
It’s not the first time Anushka has been blamed for Kohli’s failure with the bat. In 2015, when India was eliminated from the 2015 World Cup in the semi-final with Kohli scoring 1, their performances were tied to Anushka. Later last October, a comment made by former India goalkeeper Farokh Engineer, stating that “one of the selectors was serving tea to Anushka Sharma during the 2019 World Cup” sparked a storm.
Gavaskar said his comments were not intended to blame the actor and that it was only a mere reference. “The point I’m trying to make is that there was no practice for anyone, including Virat in the running. I am not being sexist. If someone has played it, what can I do? he said.
“I would like to say it again. Where do I blame her? I don’t blame her. I’m just saying the video said he was bowling with Virat. Virat has only played that bowling alley during the lockout period. It is a tennis ball, a fun game in which people have to pass the time during the confinement. That’s it. Where do I blame her for Virat’s failures?
Gavaskar even said that he would never cross the line, as he himself has believed in the wives of cricketers who travel with them on tours.
“You know me, I’m the one who has always fought for wives who go with husbands on tour. I am the one that a normal boy goes to the office for a job from 9 to 5, when he comes home, he returns to his wife. Similarly, cricketers, when they go out on tour or even when they play at home, why can’t they have their wives with them? Gavaskar added.
“Because after their work hours are over, they have to go back to their wives like any other common man. So, I don’t blame her. “
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