When Kohli fails, must Anushka pay the price?

WEB DESK: If Pakistanis thought that Babar Azam’s fan club is toxic, they need to look at how Indians treat Virat Kohli. Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma has once again become the target of social media trolling after Kohli’s poor run of form against Australia, reigniting an old and unfair pattern of blame.

Kohli, who was dismissed for consecutive ducks in the ongoing ODI series, endured a rare lapse in his otherwise prolific career, but instead of focusing on his on-field performance, a section of online users turned their ire toward his wife.

During the second ODI at Adelaide Oval, Kohli was dismissed for a four-ball duck by Xavier Bartlett, marking the first time in his 17-year ODI career that he has recorded back-to-back zeros. Despite India posting a competitive 264 for nine, Australia edged home by two wickets.

The post-match chatter, however, took a familiar turn. Trolls flooded social media with baseless comments directed at Anushka, holding her responsible for Kohli’s form, a narrative that has trailed the couple since their relationship became public in 2014

Observers and fans have condemned the backlash, calling it a reflection of a wider misogynistic trend where women connected to male athletes are unfairly blamed for sporting failures. “She’s not facing the bowlers, she’s supporting her partner,” one user noted, defending the actor against the online vitriol.

As India prepare for the series decider in Sydney, attention will inevitably turn back to Kohli’s batting. But for Anushka, who has faced years of unwarranted criticism with grace, the episode serves as yet another reminder of how social media often blurs the line between fandom and toxicity.