T20 World Cup 2021: Virat Kohli says taking the knee was communicated to them by team management

Both India and Pakistan before the game showed support to BLM movement.

By Ankitjit Singh - 25 Oct, 2021

India skipper Virat Kohli revealed why his team took a knee before the start of the game against Pakistan in ICC T20 World Cup 2021. 

Team India and Pakistan clashed in their first match of the Super 12s stage at Dubai. Before the start of the match both the teams paid a tribute to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) moment. 

While the Virat Kohli-led side took a knee, the Pakistan Cricket team joined them in support by placing their hands on their hearts.

Notably, the BLM moment started after the death of an African-American man last year after a police officer pressed a knee on his neck in the USA. Since then many sportspeople across the globe have raised their voices against racism. 

Read Also: WATCH - Kohli displays sportsmanship after defeat; Dhoni mingles with Pakistani players

Speaking at the press conference, Indian skipper Virat Kohli said that the initiative to take the knee was communicated to them by the team management to which they agreed and paid tribute to the cause. 

"That was communicated to us by the management, the Pakistan team agreed to pay their tribute to the same cause. We accepted our side of things and that was how it was decided," Virat Kohli said during the press conference. 

Coming to the match, the Virat Kohli-led India had no answers to Pakistan's onslaught as after restricting them to the total of 151 runs, the Babar Azam-led side thrashed them by 10 wickets to register their first win against ‘Men in Blue’ in World Cups.

India will next lock horns with New Zealand on 31st October, while Pakistan will take on the same opponents on 26th October. 

(ANI inputs) 

By Ankitjit Singh - 25 Oct, 2021

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