The Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri recently commented on the controversy that erupted last month between the former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, wife of current India captain, Virat Kohli. Gavaskar found himself in the midst of a controversy for his remarks during an IPL game that Kohli’s Royal Challenger Bangalore (RCB) suffered a huge loss by 97 runs in the match against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP).

It was during the RCB innings that Gavaskar, referring to a viral video of the couple, had said that Kohli only managed to practice during the COVID-19 lockdown facing Sharma’s bowling.

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Gavaskar’s comment – which was twisted in some posts – led to some divided opinions on social media. While some called him sexist, there were also those who didn’t find anything objectionable with Gavaskar’s comment.

Here is the video we all have been talking about. #Gavaskar #AnushkaSharma #ViratKohli @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma #ipl #rcb #SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/aCRtB6Pr2x

— Vishal Ghandat (@vishalghandat1) September 25, 2020

After the social media outbreak, Sharma put out a long Instagram story where she said: “It’s 2020 and things still don’t change for me. When will I stop getting dragged into cricket and stop being used to pass sweeping statements?”

Gavaskar, on India Today TV, also gave his side of the story by saying that he wasn’t “being a sexist”. He said,  “Where am I blaming her, where am I being sexist in this. I am only stating what was seen on the video … I am only saying that the video says that she was bowling to Virat. So Virat has played only that bowling in the lockdown period … Where am I blaming her for Virat’s failures.”

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Shastri clarified his stance on the whole controversy and stated that Anushka Sharma is entitled to express her opinions if she felt hurt by Gavaskar’s comments. During a recent chat with Times Now, Ravi Shastri said, “If Anushka Sharma felt it, she is entitled to say. Whether the comment made by Sunil Gavaskar is agreeable or not, I would not have gone down that route myself.”

If Anushka Sharma felt it, she is entitled to say. Whether the comment made by Sunil Gavaskar is agreeable or not, I would not have down that route myself: @RaviShastriOfc, Head Coach, Indian cricket team tells Navika Kumar on #FranklySpeakingWithRaviShastri. pic.twitter.com/nWR5J1STUa

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) October 31, 2020