Picture Credit: Twitter
Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, took to social media on June 9, Thursday, to hit back at fans after getting targeted for a viral dressing room image during WTC Final 2023. At the end of day 2, India were 151/5, trailing Australia by 318 runs, after Travis Head and Steve Smith brought up their centuries to propel their team’s total to 469.
The 34-year-old was dismissed for 14 runs by Mitchell Starc on Day 2 of the ongoing Ultimate Test. It was a nasty delivery from the left-arm fast bowler, which reared off the length and hit Virat Kohli on the thumb before ballooning to the slip fielder Steve Smith, who caught it gleefully.
Shortly afterwards, an image of Virat Kohli circulated on social media, in which he was seen eating food in the dressing room, while having a discussion with Shubman Gill, substitute Ishan Kishan, and batting coach Vikram Rathour. It sparked criticism of the Indian superstar, with some sections of fans saying that no matter what happens, food makes everyone forget their worries.
In response, before the start of play on day 3 in the WTC Final 2023, the Delhi-born cricketer posted an Instagram story, in which he shared a tweet from certain Mark Manson, 3x #1 NYTimes bestselling author. The story read, “You must develop the ability to be disliked in order to free yourself from the prison of other peoples’ opinions.”
At lunch on day 3, India got some respectability in their first innings score, ending the first session at 260/6 in 60 overs, thanks to the hundred run partnership from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur. On his return to Test cricket, the Mumbai Ranji Trophy captain struck a fantastic fifty, before falling off Pat Cummins at the score of 89 of 129 deliveries.