Boria Majumdar at the MCG
Remember Jonny Bairstow? If you don’t, let’s refresh your memories. Over a year ago, during an Ashes series in England, Australia claimed his wicket with a stumping that was deemed “legal” but against the spirit of the game. Let me state this at the outset – I have nothing against teams playing by the rules. In fact, that’s not the issue here.
Soon after the incident, the English fans started abusing the Australians. In fact, a former star speaking on conditions of anonymity said this, “Mate, when the players were walking through the Long Room [at Lord’s], they were called all sorts of names. It was serious abuse. And there is no place for abuse on a cricket field.”
At the time, the Australian media were up in arms. How could the Aussie players be abused by English fans for playing within the rules? How dare anyone abuse the players? In fact, the reaction was much like a World War was upon us.
And the very same Australian media is now intent on defending the abuse heaped on Virat Kohli. For them, it is all part of the game. That’s where the problem lies. It is a case of clear double standards. Either the abuse heaped on Pat Cummins and his team was justified or it was not. It can’t be that it was wrong then, and right now. Kohli can’t be the subject of continuous targetted attacks.
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From what we hear, it is happening because Kohli refused to do some media after coming here. Before that, he was King. The darling of the Aussie media. But the moment he refused, and he was very much within his rights to do so, the ugly side the of the local press came out. How could be refuse? If he does, it is time to target him. First, the airport incident and then all else followed. It all reached a crescendo when he was called a clown by one of the papers and abused as he was walking back after being dismissed. No player, and I repeat no player, should be abused, and it is time there is a line drawn. The media narrative is out of control, and Indian fans joining in the chorus hasn’t helped.
In fact, that’s the most disappointing. When abuse is being heaped on one of your own, you stand up. Don’t go back to the ugly fan wars that define Indian cricket at the moment. There is a section that will abuse Kohli come what may. And another that will do the same with Rohit Sharma. This is the unfortunate reality, and the Australian media is feeding off it.
To go back to the former Australian great, “We have always prided ourselves on giving it to people. When Virat gives it back, we start crying. And then, this abuse. It is not done, mate. Things need to get better for the sport, and it is our job to make sure it happens.”
Also Read: Rohit Sharma’s Struggles Continue: A Captain Under the Microscope