Harsha Bhogle issues strong clarification after massive backlash from Virat Kohli fans over viral video related to slow strike-rate

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Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli has once again found himself at the center of controversy, this time due to a candid statement made by renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle.

In his recent interaction, Bhogle expressed his opinion on Kohli’s approach to batting, suggesting that at times, it might be in the team’s best interest for him to get out and make way for big-hitting players. The remarks stirred up a storm on social media and the video of the same spread like wildfire, with Kohli’s supporters expressing their discontent and defending the batting maestro’s record-breaking performances.

The viral video and Harsha Bhogle’s controversial remarks

In the now widely circulated video, Bhogle articulates his perspective on the strategic aspect of dismissals in cricket, using Kohli as an example. Bhogle suggests that in certain situations, it might be in the team’s best interest for a batter, even a prolific one like Kohli, to deliberately get out after spending a certain amount of time on the crease and make way for big-hitters to add quick runs.

Bhogle further highlights how, in Test cricket, Kohli is expected to stay at the crease and not get out. However, when playing for franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or in T20Is for India, the dynamics might change. According to Bhogle, beyond a certain point, it could be strategically beneficial for the team if a player like Kohli intentionally gets out.

“Virat Kohli is a great example. Virat Kohli is playing Test cricket for India and he isn’t supposed to get out. Now, he goes to play for RCB, for India; beyond a certain point, it might actually been the interest of the side for him to get out. How do you reconcile to the fact that I am one of the greatest who have played the game but actually at this stage, it’s in the team’s interest that I get out because the person who is coming in will probably hit 20 of 6 balls. Virat Kohli is an extreme example,” said Harsha Bhogle.

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The massive backlash

Bhogle’s remarks did not sit well with many Kohli fans who took to social media to express their displeasure. Some criticized Bhogle for seemingly targeting Kohli consistently, while others pointed out that Kohli boasts a better strike rate than many big-hitting players in the death overs. The online backlash also included tweets reminding Bhogle of Kohli’s T20 heroics, such as the memorable innings against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2022 at the MCG, where the Delhi-born cricketer played a pivotal role in India’s sensational victory.

Here’s how Twitter reacted

Harsha Bhogle’s clarification

Amid the uproar, Bhogle wasted no time in issuing a strong clarification to address the misunderstanding and provide context to his earlier statements. Bhogle took to social media to explain that his intention was not to undermine Kohli’s abilities but to highlight the evolving dynamics of the game. He even called out the Press Trust of India for releasing a cropped video and not sharing the full conversation. Expressing frustration, he pointed out that the section where he praised Kohli and provided reasoning for his articulation was unjustly not shown.

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