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| Virat Kohli causes uproar with 'leave India' comment | Virat Kohli causes uproar with 'leave India' comment |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| India cricket captain Virat Kohli is embroiled in controversy after lashing out at a cricket fan who said he preferred English and Australian batsmen to Indian players. | India cricket captain Virat Kohli is embroiled in controversy after lashing out at a cricket fan who said he preferred English and Australian batsmen to Indian players. |
| "I don't think you should live in India, go and live somewhere else," Kohli told him in a video recording. | "I don't think you should live in India, go and live somewhere else," Kohli told him in a video recording. |
| He was responding to messages during the launch of his mobile app on Monday. | He was responding to messages during the launch of his mobile app on Monday. |
| The video went viral and prompted a torrent of criticism against Kohli on social media. | |
| The 30-year-old cricketer has been hailed as one of the greatest batsmen in the world and is often touted as India's cricket megastar since national legend Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013. | The 30-year-old cricketer has been hailed as one of the greatest batsmen in the world and is often touted as India's cricket megastar since national legend Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013. |
| In the video, Kohli is seen reading out a message from a cricket fan who described him as an "over rated batsman". He also said he enjoyed watching batsmen from English and Australian teams rather than the current Indian team. | In the video, Kohli is seen reading out a message from a cricket fan who described him as an "over rated batsman". He also said he enjoyed watching batsmen from English and Australian teams rather than the current Indian team. |
| "Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? I don't mind you not liking me, but I don't think you should live in our country and like other things," Kohli said in his response. He added that the fan should get his "priorities straight". | "Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? I don't mind you not liking me, but I don't think you should live in our country and like other things," Kohli said in his response. He added that the fan should get his "priorities straight". |
| Social media users were quick to call out Kohli over his remarks - and many referred to past instances in which he had praised sportspeople of other nationalities. | Social media users were quick to call out Kohli over his remarks - and many referred to past instances in which he had praised sportspeople of other nationalities. |
| Harsha Bhogle, a prominent cricket commentator and journalist, also weighed in on the controversy. | Harsha Bhogle, a prominent cricket commentator and journalist, also weighed in on the controversy. |
| Some others mocked Kohli's response. | Some others mocked Kohli's response. |
| This isn't the first time Kohli has been in the spotlight for controversial statements. | This isn't the first time Kohli has been in the spotlight for controversial statements. |
| In 2016, when India's federal government cancelled 86% of the country's currency, Kohli called it the "greatest move" he has ever encountered in politics. | In 2016, when India's federal government cancelled 86% of the country's currency, Kohli called it the "greatest move" he has ever encountered in politics. |
| The remark sparked criticism because the surprise decision had disrupted the lives of millions of Indians. | The remark sparked criticism because the surprise decision had disrupted the lives of millions of Indians. |
| Writing about Kohli's latest comments, Times of India journalist Dwaipayan Dutta wonders if the cricket captain is "losing perspective" off the field. | Writing about Kohli's latest comments, Times of India journalist Dwaipayan Dutta wonders if the cricket captain is "losing perspective" off the field. |
| The statement, he writes, is "probably an extension of the nationalist narrative that modern India tries to propagate". | The statement, he writes, is "probably an extension of the nationalist narrative that modern India tries to propagate". |
| Last month, Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 10,000 one-day international runs in a match against West Indies. | Last month, Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 10,000 one-day international runs in a match against West Indies. |
| He achieved the feat in his 205th innings and surpassed Tendulkar, who did it in 259 innings in 2001. | He achieved the feat in his 205th innings and surpassed Tendulkar, who did it in 259 innings in 2001. |