Virat Kohli, India’s star cricketer, is gearing up for his first match since clinching the T20 World Cup. After a well-earned break in London with his wife, Anushka Sharma, and their children, Vamika and Akaay, Kohli has arrived in Sri Lanka for the upcoming three-match ODI series.
While Virat Kohli’s performance during the tournament was somewhat below his usual high standards, he delivered a crucial innings in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa, earning the Player of the Match award.
Despite his track record as a significant match-winner for India, the 35-year-old often faces criticism on social media. Trolls, who refer to him as ‘Chokli,’ blend his surname with ‘choking,’ accusing him of failing in crucial knockout games.
The term ‘Chokli’ emerged after Kohli’s dismissal for just one run in the 2019 ODI World Cup final against New Zealand. It is a combination of Kohli and Choking i.e. Chokli. This was his third instance of being dismissed for a single run in ICC knockout matches, following similar dismissals in the 2015 ODI World Cup semi-final against Australia and the 2017 Champions Trophy final against Pakistan.
Although the term was previously confined to social media, it recently reached Kohli himself. In a viral video, Kohli, surrounded by his teammates and engaged in shadow practice, was visibly annoyed when a fan chanted ‘Chokli-Chokli.’ Reacting swiftly, Kohli turned around and gave a piercing glare before firmly stating, “Not here.”
Watch the video:
Someone called Virat Kohli a chokli in front of him in the dressing room of Colombo ground in Sri Lanka, after which Virat got angry.😭😭
No way now Lankan fan's also owning Virat Kohli 🙏😹😹😹 pic.twitter.com/ru4KbRUfBX
— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) July 31, 2024
Kohli has delivered numerous match-winning performances throughout his career, and those who attempt to demean him with such chants are simply detracting from the spirit of cricket.
