Former India captain MS Dhoni recently gave a signed Chennai Super Kings jersey to Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf. While most have lauded this gesture from the CSK skipper, a section of fans, in particularly Virat Kohli fans, have expressed anger regarding this.
On Friday, Haris Rauf shared pictures on social media of the signed jersey he received from MS Dhoni and thanked the former India captain for this present. Rauf had met Dhoni at the T20 World Cup in Dubai when the latter was in the role of Team India’s mentor.
“The legend & capt cool MS Dhoni has honored me with this beautiful gift his shirt. The “7” still winning hearts through his kind & goodwill gestures,” Haris Rauf captioned the post.
The legend & capt cool @msdhoni has honored me with this beautiful gift his shirt. The “7” still winning hearts through his kind & goodwill gestures. @russcsk specially Thank you so much for kind support. pic.twitter.com/XYpSNKj2Ia
— Haris Rauf (@HarisRauf14) January 7, 2022
However, this hasn’t gone down well with some of Virat Kohli‘s followers. They brought up the incident when their idol was termed as “anti-national” for hugging Mohammad Rizwan following India’s embarrassing loss to Pakistan. That was India’s first-ever World Cup defeat to their rivals.
India were thrashed by 10 wickets, with Babar Azam and Rizwan scoring unbeaten half-centuries after Shaheen Afridi had pinned India down with a match-winning three-wicket haul.
Virat Kohli, the then India T20I captain, was seen smiling while shaking hand with the Pakistan skipper, Babar Azam, and also hugged Rizwan, who was all elated with the victory. At that time, Kohli was slammed by a section of netizens; alleged that he wasn’t completely committed to the team’s cause, the rubbish terms of “anti-national”, disloyal, shameless, unfaithful were thrown at the Delhi-born.
Now, with MS Dhoni sending a gift – a signed CSK jersey – to Haris Rauf, the defenders of Kohli spurted out, pointing out the hypocrisy of those people who criticised Kohli but are now lauding Dhoni.
Here, look at some of the comments on this topic that has gained weight on social media:
When virat hugged rizwan
He was anti-national
Waiting for rw trolls to tag dhoni now— Rakshit thukral (@Cricket94583075) January 7, 2022
The smile and hug to them after tremendous heartbreak to all indians !!
That was shameless and attention seeking act by Kohli.
Off the field it doesn’t matter.
— True (@nonetet) January 7, 2022
When MS Dhoni gifted a jersey, everyone saying GOAT, humble and down to earth but when Virat talked to Babar and Rizwan, Deshdrohi, Gaddar, Anti Nationalist. Why this hypocrisy? Why is it like Virat should get hate for each and every activity he does?
PS: No hate to MS Dhoni?
— Surya (@Surya_One8) January 7, 2022
When Rizwan hugged Virat, then so much hatred for him. The same people are saying it’s MS greatness. I want people to have same visual for every players. Both of them are Indians so please learn to respect these legends.
— abc12334 (@Abc78134968) January 7, 2022
Dhoni tha is liye Jane dia Virat hota to deshdrohi bana dia hota usko abtk ?
— Ravi bhai high on bear ?? (@Ravi_beer_69) January 7, 2022
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli, who was sacked as ODI captain, is in South Africa leading the Test side where the series currently stands level at 1-1. Kohli led the side to victory in the first Test but missed the second due to back spasms. He is set to return to the line-up and march the troops in the third Test, to start Tuesday in Cape Town.
