The Indian cricket team, led by Virat Kohli, lost their first match ICC T20 World Cup match against Pakistan in Dubai on October 24. Disappointed with the team's poor performance, a section of people blamed Indian pacer Mohammed Shami for the loss. Some even questioned his 'patriotism' and abused him too. Virat stood in solidarity with Shami and took a stand for the member of the Indian cricket team. The captain of the team came out in support and issued a statement.
However, some people couldn't digest the fact that Virat stood up for Shami and put to display the Indian cricket team's unity. Stooping to a new low, some trolls attacked Virat and his wife, actress Anushka Sharma's 10 months old daughter Vamika Kohli. In a tweet, which has been deleted, a user issued a rape threat to Vamika.
Former Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq came out in support of Virat and lashed out at trolls for targeting the Indian cricket team's captain and his family members. In a video on his YouTube channel, Inzamam-ul-Haq said, "I heard that threats are being given to Virat Kohli's daughter. People need to understand it's just a sport, we might be playing for different countries but we are a part of the same community. You have every right to criticise Kohli's batting or his captaincy but nobody has the right to target a cricketer's family. Few days back, something similar happened with Mohammed Shami. Victory and loss is a part of the game. I was deeply hurt to see people attacking Kohli's family."
Many took a stand for Virat and lashed out at trolls attacking Vamika.
Kohli and Anushka’s 10-month-old daughter is getting rape threats because he decided to stand by his Muslim teammate, call out bigotry, and say discrimination on the basis of religion is wrong.
A 10-month-old child.
This is the India that we let happen.
— Andre Borges (@borges) October 31, 2021
The fact that Kohli and Anushka's daughter is recieving rape threats and hate because of Kohli's stand shows how much this country can stoop down and hate the girls and women here without an ounce of shame. How is this okay? It's scary to think these people exist.
— anannya tANI SUPREMACY (@anxioushours7) October 31, 2021
Taking a stand for Shami, Virat said in his statement, "To me, attacking someone over their religion is the most pathetic thing that a human being can do. Everyone has the right to voice their opinion and what they feel about a certain situation. But personally I have never, ever, even thought of discriminating someone over their religion. That is a very personal and sacred thing to every human being and that should be left there. People take out their frustrations because they have no understanding of what we do as individuals and how much effort we put on the field."
(Source: Twitter)
