Virat Kohli Fans Target Australian Bowler Xavier Bartlett with Abuse on Social Media

Strategic Insights -

Following his remarkable feat of getting Virat Kohli out for a duck in the second ODI against India at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday, Australian fast bowler Xavier Bartlett was subjected to a stream of abuse from sections of Indian fans on social media. The online harassment has drawn widespread condemnation from the cricket community, with many expressing their support for Bartlett and denouncing the vitriolic reactions.

Key Takeaways:

  • Xavier Bartlett, the 26-year-old Australian fast bowler, was targeted by Indian fans on social media after getting Virat Kohli out for a duck in the second ODI against India at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
  • The online abuse has drawn over 4,400 comments on Bartlett's Instagram post, with many of the remarks being vile and mocking in nature.
  • The reaction mirrors the online trolling faced by fellow Australian quick Mitchell Starc, who dismissed Kohli for an eight-ball duck in Perth earlier in the series.
  • Despite the harassment, Bartlett has received strong backing from his teammates and the wider cricket community, with many condemning the abuse as unacceptable.
  • Bartlett humbly acknowledged Kohli's stature in the game, citing him as "probably one of the best white-ball players of all time".
  • Kohli's back-to-back ducks mark the first time in his illustrious ODI career that he has been dismissed without scoring in consecutive innings.
  • The 36-year-old Kohli has one final chance to find form in the third and final match of the series at the SCG on Saturday.

Statistics:

  • Over 4,400 comments have been made on Bartlett's Instagram post since the incident.
  • The online abuse has drawn widespread condemnation from the cricket community, with many expressing their support for Bartlett and denouncing the vitriolic reactions.
  • Remember, the SCG hosts the final match of the series on Saturday with Kohli having one final chance to find form.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times (published by HT Digital Content Services with permission)
  • Fox Cricket (for quotes from Xavier Bartlett)
  • The cricket community's reaction to the online harassment.