‘Why the hypocrisy?’ Virender Sehwag takes a brutal dig at Virat Kohli

Yesterday, Indian cricket fans suffered heartbreak after the team lost the inaugural 2021 World T20 match against the arch-rival Pakistan. What Indian cricket team fans are feeling right now is not a sentiment of sadness, but sheer anger over allegedly bad team selection and flawed strategy. Many angry netizens and social media users are expressing their anger at Kohli. 

Meanwhile, former Indian cricket team opener Sehwag has slammed hypocrisy surrounding campaigns to stop bursting crackers during the Hindu festival of Diwali. Sehwag’s tweet comes days after Virat Kohli had tweeted that he will share some “personal tips for celebrating a meaningful Diwali.” 

Sehwag’s Diwali tweet

Former team India opener Virender Sehwag tweeted, “Firecrackers are banned during Diwali but yesterday in parts of India there were firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan’s victory. Achha [Alright], they must have been celebrating the victory of cricket. Toh [So], what’s the harm in fireworks on Diwali. Hypocrisy Kyun, Saara gyaan tab hi Yaad aata hai [Why this hypocrisy, they get reminded of all the knowledge only at that time (during Diwali)]. 

The Kohli connection in Sehwag’s tweet

Notably, Virat Kohli had recently shared a video on his Twitter handle prepared in association with Pinterest. In the video, he can be heard saying, “It’s been a tough year for all of us all around the world but especially in India with wave 2 hitting hard in 2021. As we get ready for Diwali this festive season, I’ll be sharing some of my tips for you to celebrate with loved ones and family. Stay tuned on Pinterest and pass the light.”

However, Kohli’s tweet about sharing tips on how to celebrate a meaningful Diwali didn’t go down well with some netizens who said that they didn’t need any tips on how to celebrate the ancient festival.

Last year too, Kohli had asked all those celebrating the festival of lights to refrain from using firecrackers, in a neo-modern bid to allegedly help save the environment. 

Now, Sehwag’s tweet is aimed directly at such seasonal environmentalism that comes into the picture every year only when the festival of Diwali is around the corner. 

Firecrackers are banned during Diwali but yesterday in parts of India there were firecrackers to celebrate Pakistan ‘s victory. Achha they must have been celebrating victory of cricket. Toh , what’s the harm in fireworks on Diwali. Hypocrisy kyun ,Saara gyaan tab hi yaad aata hai

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 25, 2021

Sehwag’s past remarks about Kohli

This is certainly not the first time that Sehwag has made such remarks. He has questioned Kohli’s team selection on at least two occasions. 

Last year, when batsman Shreyas Iyer was dropped from India’s playing XI in a T20I against Australia, Sehwag had said, “If you talk about Shreyas Iyer, if in the previous T20 series he had given a good performance, then on what basis did you not play him in this encounter. Is there any reason? I don’t think even Shreyas Iyer has the guts to go and ask why he was not played.” 

The former team India opener had added, “If this decision has been taken with the team in mind then it is right else if it has been taken thinking that Shreyas Iyer does not play short-pitched bowling that well and so a chance has been given to someone else, then it will be a different thinking because he has scored runs in the last few T20 matches. So, he should be given chances.” He had also said, “I will say one more thing, all the rules are applicable to everyone else other than Virat Kohli, no rule is applicable to him. Neither his batting order is changed nor is he left out or given a break when he is out of form. So, that is wrong.”

Sehwag didn’t stop here. He had also said, “Virat Kohli has to think that in the England tour when he had flopped, if he was not given opportunities after that, how would he have become such a big player.” Making a comparison with former team India skipper MS Dhoni, Sehwag said, “He (Kohli) himself says that MS Dhoni has backed him and that he would always remain his captain. Is there any player in this team who will say the same thing for Virat Kohli? it is difficult.” 

Comments after Rohit Sharma was given rest

Again when Kohli decided to treat his lieutenant Rohit Sharma in the first couple of T20Is against England earlier this year, Sehwag had said, “If Rohit Sharma is present, then he should be kept in the team. The public comes to see players like Rohit. I am his fan myself. If he does not play, my TV will be turned off.” 

Sehwag is loved for his frank character, both in terms of his batting and his comments. In the case of skipper Virat Kohli too, Sehwag has time and again expressed his disappointment with his team selection decisions. This time around though Sehwag also seems to have been miffed by the repeated advice of Kohli and other celebrities to avoid burning crackers on Diwali.