Virat Kohli was back in the spotlight following ex-spinner Harbhajan Singh’s “pathetic” comments about his wife Anushka Sharma.

Virat Kohli, the leading scorer in the just-concluded Cricket World Cup, where India lost to Australia in the final, was back in the spotlight following ex-spinner Harbhajan Singh’s “pathetic” comments about the former’s wife Anushka Sharma.

While commenting on the Cricket World Cup final between India and Australia on Sunday, Harbhajan Singh raised questions about Anushka Sharma and KL Rahul’s wife Athiya Shetty’s knowledge about cricket.

“This is what I was thinking if they are talking about cricket or films. Because I don’t know how much they understand cricket,” Harbhajan Singh told a fellow commentator as television cameras showed Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty chatting in the stands.

However, Harbhajan Singh’s statement about Anushka Sharma and Athiya Shetty’s cricketing knowledge didn’t go well with Team India’s supporters as they reckoned that the 2011 World Cup winner’s comments were “sexist” and “misogynistic” in nature.

“Harbhajan Singh needs to think before he speaks. What the hell do you mean by saying that Anushka and Athiya will be talking about movies and not about cricket because they have little understanding of the game. Their spouses play cricket so why won’t they have the knowledge?”, a Team India fan wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“Harbhajan Singh is a graceless sexist lout for attacking Anushka Sharma & Athiya Shetty. You have to be blind, blinkered & prejudiced not to see the beautiful relationship Virat & Anushka share. He’s lucky to have such a supportive partner,” another added.

“Harbhajan commenting about Anushka and Athiya about not having enough knowledge of cricket and portraying them as gossip mongers. Who knows how much Geeta Basra knows about cricket? Disgraceful,” a third commented.

“Not only does Harbhajan Singh cry about his ex-teammate on Twitter 24 into 7, he also sits and passes extremely misogynistic comments, today about Anushka and Athiya Shetty, during his commentary stint. Never seen a more shameless man. Pathetic,” a fourth elaborated.

“It feels bad that India lost – but politicizing a simple game is the biggest curse of all. Win or lose the sportsmen should just be sportsmen. Do not make them Bollywood stars or political party stooges. Harbhajan writing a sexist comment about Anushka and Shetty is below the belt. Why is it always the woman made fun of when men get frustrated? Harbhajan Singh, please take ur comment back. Fielding was very tight. Good play by Australia! Congrats on your win,” a fifth stated.

A few suggested Harbhajan Singh speak about Virat Kohli’s cinematic knowledge. Some asked him to question the talismanic India star’s grip on global geopolitics after a Palestine supporter entered the field during the Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

“In the same vein that Harbhajan said that Athiya and Anushka must be talking about movies because they wouldn’t have too much understanding of cricket, I would like to say that Virat wouldn’t know why the protestor came on the pitch because he wouldn’t be following world affairs,” a sixth remarked.

Meanwhile, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar ripped into Rohit Sharma after his “greedy” mistake cost India dearly, eventually leading to their defeat against Australia in the Cricket World Cup final in Ahmedabad.

After Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to field first, the Indian team got off to a flier, thanks to Rohit Sharma’s ultra-aggressive approach at the top of the order.

As the 36-year-old has done throughout the World Cup, Rohit Sharma smoked sixes and boundaries at will against Australia, taking the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc apart during his short but impressive knock of 47 off 31 balls.

At 1/76 and Rohit Sharma firing on all cylinders, the crowd inside the Narendra Modi Stadium was excited as India looked in complete command of the proceedings on the field.

As the Indians were running away with the match on the back of Rohit Sharma’s explosive batting, a moment of brilliance turned the tide in Australia’s favor.

The head-turning moment came in the 10th over, bowled by Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. After Rohit Sharma took him on, smashing a six and a four off Glenn Maxwell, the India captain tried to hit another maximum.

But on this occasion, Rohit Sharma could only get an outside edge of the bat on the ball before Travis Head grabbed a brilliant catch, getting rid of Rohit Sharma for 47.

Once Rohit Sharma perished, Australian bowlers tightened the screws on a dry Ahmedabad pitch, choking the flow of runs for the Indians.

Except for Virat Kohli, who made 54 off 63 balls, no other Indian batter got going with boundaries becoming a rare commodity.

KL Rahul did try to stem the tide in India’s favor but continued to struggle throughout his knock of 66 off 107 balls, perhaps contributing to the home team’s eventual score of 240 in their allocated 50 overs.