In the world of cricket, even the greats aren’t immune to a bit of playful ribbing. Former England captain Mike Atherton couldn’t resist taking a swipe at Indian cricket star Virat Kohli following India’s recent embarrassing performance in Bengaluru.
Last week, cricket fans watched in disbelief as the Indian team crumbled to a mere 46 runs against New Zealand, marking their lowest-ever score on home turf. This collapse brought back memories of another infamous Indian batting disaster – the 36 all out against Australia in Adelaide back in 2020.
Atherton, who knows a thing or two about humiliating defeats, having captained England to their own 46 all out against the West Indies in 1994, couldn’t help but draw parallels. In his recent column, he cheekily welcomed current Indian captain Rohit Sharma to the “46 all out club”, reminiscing about his own experience three decades ago.
But Atherton saved his sharpest jab for Kohli. With a hint of mischief, he pointed out that Kohli’s impressive cricket resume now includes being part of two of India’s three lowest-ever scores in Test cricket. Talk about a backhanded compliment!
The former England skipper didn’t stop there. He questioned why captains who choose to bowl first and fail face harsher criticism than those who bat first and stumble. Atherton praised Rohit Sharma for owning up to his misjudgment in Bengaluru, contrasting it with the enduring ridicule faced by former England captain Nasser Hussain for a similar decision in Brisbane 2002.
While some fans might bristle at Atherton’s comments, others will likely appreciate the touch of humor he brings to cricket’s ups and downs. After all, in a sport known for its highs and lows, sometimes you just have to laugh at the unexpected turns – even when they involve your cricketing heroes.
