Virat Kohli got emotional while making 'leave India' comment, says Viswanathan Anand

Kohli had given this statement in reply to a mean comment by a cricket fan.

Kohli found himself in a storm of controversy after his reply to an internet heckler | Twitter

Five-time former world chess champion Viswanathan Anand has said that emotions got the better of Virat Kohli as he lost control and made a controversial ‘leave India’ comment to a fan on social media.

“I think he lost control. He got a bit emotional and he just said the first thing that came to his mind,” Anand told PTI on the sidelines of the Tata Steel Chess in Kolkata.

“That’s the attitude he is comfortable with. In sport, you see all characters and this is the character that fits him best. I try to be myself and in the end you should be comfortable in your own skin,” he added.

Kohli has found himself in a storm of controversy on his reply to an internet heckler during the launch of his official app on his 30th birthday.

Virat turned 30 on November 5 and during the launch of his app, in a segment known as reading mean comments, the Indian captain read a comment from a fan who said that he liked watching foreign batsmen more than Indian batsmen. He also called the Indian batters as ‘overrated’.

In his reply, Kohli had said, "Okay, I don’t think you should live in India, then you should go and live somewhere else no. Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? But I don’t mind you not liking me, but I don’t think you should live in our country and like other things. Get your priorities right."

The Indian chess grandmaster, however, feels that enough has been written about it and it’s better not to pile anything more.

“Maybe Kohli was caught at a weak moment, feeling a bit sensitive and was not in the best mood maybe. That’s my impression. Then he lost control of it,” Anand said.

“People are emotional and they lose control once in a while. It has happened to me even if I was more successful in not showing it. But there are moments when your emotions take over. He has got enough criticism already. It’s over. Those who did not like it, already criticised him so no need to keep piling on it,” he concluded.

(With PTI inputs)

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 13 Nov, 2018

    Share Via