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Indian cricketer Virat Kohli recently faced a career first, registering consecutive ODI ducks (scores of zero) against Australia. Following his performance, his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, is once again being unfairly subjected to misogynistic trolling on social media.
This trend of blaming Anushka for Kohli’s on-field performance dates back to the beginning of their public relationship and marriage in 2017.
Trolls Blame Anushka for Kohli’s Form
Social media platforms are currently filled with numerous memes and posts that directly hold Anushka responsible for the cricketer’s twin failures. The criticisms range from blaming her for “his failure” to claiming she has done “irreparable damage” to his career.
One frequently quoted sentiment suggests that Kohli is a “living example of how having a wrong partner can completely destroy your career,” claiming he might “feel better about being turned into a ‘gentleman’,” but at a great cost. The online abuse included horrific comments, with one user even wishing for her death.
Fans Rally in Defence
Anushka Sharma’s supporters and other social media users quickly came to her defense, condemning the rampant misogyny:
- Misogyny Critique: One Threads user wrote, “It’s cute how men’s fragile egos need a woman to blame every time their favorite player has a bad day.”
- Historical Trolling: Another fan pointed out that the actress “is being getting trolled since their dating era,” suggesting trolls simply need a scapegoat for poor performance.
- “Shame on Kohli fans” was a common refrain, with one X user specifically calling out fans for “dragging his wife anushka Sharma.”
The continued public harassment has led some fans to speculate that it is precisely this kind of toxic scrutiny that drove Virat and Anushka to prioritize their privacy and relocate their family to London. The couple, who share a daughter, Vamika, and a son, Akaay, maintain a notably low public profile.
Anushka Sharma was last seen in the 2018 film Zero and has yet to announce her next project after her sports film Chakda ‘Xpress was shelved.