Controversy Erupts as Uthappa Defends Remarks on Kohli’s Leadership.
In a recent turn of events, former Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa found himself at the center of a social media storm after making controversial comments about star batter Virat Kohli’s leadership style. However, Uthappa has now come forward to clarify his stance, aiming to quell the growing controversy.
During a candid interview with The Lallantop, Uthappa, who was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning team, had accused Kohli of mistreating legendary all-rounder Yuvraj Singh towards the end of his career and denying him a proper farewell.
He also claimed that Kohli’s influence led to the exclusion of former batter Ambati Rayudu from India’s 2019 ODI World Cup squad. Uthappa’s remarks quickly went viral, sparking a wave of criticism and negative reactions from Kohli’s ardent fans.
Recognizing the need to address the situation, the former cricketer took to his YouTube channel to issue a clarification.
“A lot is being said, a lot is being misconstrued. Calm down. I’m a human being; I’m allowed to have my opinion, much like any of you,” Uthappa stated, acknowledging the backlash he had received.
In his clarification, Uthappa went on to lavish praise on Kohli’s exceptional batting abilities, referring to him as “one of the greatest ODI batters in the world” and “one of the greatest white-ball players to have ever played the game.” He even suggested that Kohli has several productive years left in him, dismissing recent calls for the star’s retirement.
Uthappa emphasized that his comments were directed at Kohli’s leadership style rather than the individual. “I was speaking to a style of leadership rather than a person or a human being,” he explained, underscoring his right to have his own opinion on the matter.
Addressing the issue of Yuvraj Singh’s farewell, Uthappa expressed his belief that the legendary all-rounder deserved a more fitting send-off, irrespective of his form at the time. He noted that Kohli, as a leader, could have afforded Yuvraj such a dignified farewell.
