The Game Gave You Everything: Virender Sehwag’s Ex-Coach Slams Virat Kohli For Taking Paternity Leave
Virender Sehwag's former coach, AN Sharma, has hit out at Virat Kohli for taking paternity leave from the Test series in Australia despite seeing the team being 1-0 down in the 4-match series.
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag’s ex-coach AN Sharma slammed Indian skipper Virat Kohli on taking paternity leave from the tour of Australia. The Delhi born headed back to India to be with his wife Anushka Sharma who is going to give birth to their first child in January.
Kohli played the T20I series, ODI series and the opening Day/Night Test at the Adelaide Oval, where they lost faced the humiliating 8 wicket defeat.
Virat Kohli had taken the paternity leave ahead of the tour of Australia to spend time with wife and actress Anushka Sharma, who is due to give birth in the month of January. Notably, Kohli will miss the remaining Tests against Australia. Ajinkya Rahane will lead the team India in Kohli’s absence.
AN clearly slammed Kohli and said that the 32-year-old should have stayed with the team. He also said that if Virender Sehwag would be there at Kohli’s team, he wouldn’t have taken the leave in the same situation.
Don’t Agree With Virat Kohli: AN Sharma
“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 was quoted as saying to Sportskeeda’s Indranil Basu.
“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,” he stated.
Virat Kohli had not played any cricket from the month of March to the second half of September as the COVID-19 pandemic brought every other cricketing event to a halt. Sehwag’s ex-coach stated that Kohli shouldn’t have opted for the leave after staying away from the game.
“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?” questioned Sharma.
“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?” questioned Sharma.
India has got many things to sort out before the Boxing Day Test. With Virat Kohli missing the last three Tests, the management needs to find the suitable batsman to replace the Indian skipper at number 4. Although many cricket experts and analysts have already suggested the management to go with KL Rahul or Ajinkya Rahane for number 4 spot still management has to confirm the things before heading into Boxing Day Test.
The second Test is scheduled in Melbourne from December 26. The remaining two Tests will be played in Sydney and Brisbane.
