AUS v IND 2020-21: "Game has given you everything," Kohli gets blasted by Sehwag's ex-coach for taking paternity leave

Sharma believes that Sehwag wouldn't have taken such a leave in his playing days.

Virat Kohli after the first Test | Getty

Indian skipper Virat Kohli's paternity leave has become a major talking point especially after Team India faced an embarrassing defeat at the hands of Australia.

Even though Kohli had announced that he will be flying back home for the birth of his first child after the first Test, there are some critics believe that the cricketer should've stayed with the team.

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag's ex-coach Mr. A.N. Sharma is one of those critics that believe that the Indian captain shouldn't have left Australia after the Adelaide Test defeat. According to him, one shouldn't take a break from cricket at the highest level without playing for long enough.

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Sharma told SportsKeeda, "I don’t agree with Virat Kohli. He should have stayed with the team, he should have worked with the team and continued as the captain. He’s a brilliant captain and a brilliant cricketer."

"You can occasionally take a break from the sport when you are playing at the top level. Because of the COVID-19 situation, everything came to a halt and cricket just started. If anyone takes a break after such a long break then what’s the fun?" he added.

The 76-year-old former coach also believes that his most popular pupil, Virender Sehwag, wouldn't have taken paternity leave in his playing days and would've stayed with the team instead.

"Sehwag would have never returned from a tour. The game has given you everything. Sachin Tendulkar returned to play the World Cup (1999) within two days of his father’s death. I can give it to you in writing that Sehwag would have never returned as cricket comes first for him," Sharma said.

(With inputs from SportsKeeda)

 
 

By Sameer Deodhar - 24 Dec, 2020

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