Admittedly, the World Twenty20 clash between India and Pakistan had cricket fans looking forward to the match. But what also caught everyone’s eye was the camaraderie between Indian captain Virat Kohli and Pakistani pacer Mohammad Amir before the much-anticipated match quite took the cake. On Friday, Virat gifted Mohammad Amir one of his willows during a pre-match practice session at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata.
And this isn’t a first — history is laden with instances where stiff competitors have displayed gestures of affection to rivals. For instance, not too long ago, note how Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi stated that their team feels more loved and well-received while playing in India . Or better yet, when cricketer Shoaib Akhtar maintained in the past that Sachin Tendulkar was one of the best batsmen he has ever bowled to. Taking the recent series of events into consideration, is it safe to surmise that displaying cold vibes among sportspersons are a thing of the past? We ask ardent sports buffs in the city to comment...
“Such acts are mere sports gimmicks. It’s probably just to calm the situation down. Sportsmen are under such pressure to deliver all the time. So in a way, these gestures actually help in easing things,” opines Abhishek Iyengar, Bengaluru- based theatre person and sports follower.
Siddharth Laxmanan, a sports critic terms it as an act of friendship. “Unlike popular beliefs and rumours, sportspersons are not always at loggerheads with players who they play a match against. We’re accustomed to seeing sportspersons pitted against each other, that’s not always the case. In fact, there are many sportspersons who share a great rapport outside the field. And the recent instances just fuel the fact.”
According to Taha Farooqui, a cricket coach at the Karnataka State Cricket Association, it’s all about respect for talent. “As sportspersons, the cardinal rule is to respect the game and its players. Virat Kohli is a polished player who’s proven his mettle. Moreover, the recent act was to motivate Mohammad Amir after his great comeback.” he adds.
