Why People Hate Virat Kohli: Debunking the Misconceptions

Most of the great players have haters. Cristiano Ronaldo fans don't like Lionel Messi, and vice-versa. Same goes for Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma. When someone gains enough haters, it means they’ve already reached such a height that even their haters can’t imagine, feeling envy. This is the case with Virat Kohli, a player who has faced significant criticism in recent years.

Over-Expectation and Disappointment

Kohli has gained a lot of haters simply because he couldn’t satisfy the fans' over-expectations. In more than 1000 days, he hasn’t scored a century, and his consistent poor form has added to the frustration. Many of his fans have unfollowed him on social media, such as Instagram, because of a lack of hope for the next unbeaten score. Despite these criticisms, there's nothing fundamentally wrong with Virat as a person or as a cricketer.

People are now noticing that maybe his mentality is down right now, making it harder for him to muster the hunger for runs. He needs to spend more time in the field and be a more patient batsman. The phrase, “Form is temporary, class is permanent,” applies here. Kohli has the potential, and he just needs a push to unleash it.

The Impact of IPL on Indian Cricket

India becoming a cricketing superpower can largely be attributed to the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, cricket outside of India went down simultaneously. The IPL has brought immense wealth to our cricketers, but it has also softened their fighting spirit. Cricket outside of India went down simultaneously. Our players have become extensions of Bollywood, full of swag and advertisements. They have lost the ability to fight and win big games.

The trend is evident in Kohli, who is the epitome of this shift. He used to be a hardworking player but has now become more akin to a Bollywood star. Who benefits from this situation? The sponsors, as the businesses have seen a hike in sales. But more importantly, it’s the fans who have lost their favorite player’s competitive spirit. Cricket and Bollywood are not the same.

Performing Despite the Criticism

There have been instances where Kohli has stood firm against his critics. In 2011/12 during the Test series against Australia, his performances were criticized. Despite the criticism, MS Dhoni backed Kohli. In the first test, Kohli scored 44 and 75 runs, while the entire Indian batting lineup collapsed against the Australian bowlers in WACA Perth.

A week later, Kohli scored his maiden Test century, battling against capable Australian bowlers in Adelaide. He was the only centurion and the leading run-scorer for India in that series, proving that the criticism was misplaced.

In India's home series against England in 2012, Kohli failed against turners such as Panesar and Swann. Critics started questioning Kohli's performance, even though the captain showed support. However, Kohli’s reply was a brilliant century against the same opposition in the 4th Test, which was a dead rubber, yet he scored 103 runs, topping the Indian scores.

These examples illustrate that Kohli can rise to the occasion despite criticism. The public's fickleness towards his performance is understandable, but it's important to appreciate the talent and potential he still holds.