The Virat Kohli saga and the problem with the Indian media

Virat Kohli – in the eye of a storm?

Anger is human nature; expressing it even more so. However, it takes a mature psyche and an organized mind to put that anger into perspective, to acknowledge the source of the anger, to focus that anger on the problem instead of the person, and to maintain civility throughout. Expression of anger can be constructive if combined with the will to do so within the realms of reason.

But then, how many of us actually step back and analyze before lashing out at somebody? Virat Kohli is human too. Being a celebrity and an obvious role model for kids aspiring to be cricketers doesn’t make you any less human.

Sure, the infamous moment of recklessness could’ve been avoided, the situation could have been dealt with in a more mature way. But expecting a 26-year-old to be flawless in his public relations is not only wrong, but also harsh on the individual who already has the burden of shouldering 1.2 billion hopes on the field.

Short-tempered, yes, but immature?

Yes, Kohli is short-tempered. Yes, Kohli is hardly the epitome of sophistication. But immature? No. For a man who, as an 18-year-old, astonished many by deciding to carry on his innings for his Ranji team Delhi even after being informed about the death of his father, ‘immaturity’ needs a different definition.

If anger is human, Kohli can be angry too. If mindless lashing out is normal for a million, it is for Kohli too. The man is made up of flesh and blood; he wasn’t born with a Star on the East.

I’m not defending Kohli’s malicious outburst against an innocent journalist, neither am I endorsing his propensity to let loose an avalanche of unprintable phrases and gestures at inappropriate locations. My point is that there is an unnecessary hue and cry being raised over this whole episode. Yes, he committed a mistake, the BCCI reprimanded him, the journalist received an apology – now get over it!

For a country whose daughters are getting raped in daylight with the shameless culprits being clearly unapologetic even in prison, does a ‘direct’ apology for a bruised ego hold significance of graver magnitude?

Did it happen ‘without any provocation’?

From Kohli’s perspective, the outburst is not entirely unfounded. The provocations had been piling up, and his temper had bubbled under the surface for long before they all culminated into an explosion of expletives. There is a fine line between malicious nastiness and exasperation, and Kohli’s detonation speaks more of the latter.

For over a year, Indian media houses had been all over Kohli’s rumoured relationship with a Bollywood actress. Rumours led to gossip, newspapers published cover stories with party photographs, manufactured conclusions from the least conclusive of facts, and news channels wrung out their last bit of decency, dedicating hours on programs concerning the couple’s affair.

When all this happened and there was no spiteful response from either of the two celebrities, the media decided to cross the line by accusing the concerned actress for Kohli’s poor form in England. Plenty of articles went up with the word ‘distraction’ being used liberally. Social media erupted with accusatory comments laced with lewdness – a few censored, most not.

As irony would have it, none who have spoken out against the Indian Test captain’s recent irate behavior in public had been vocal about their indignation when a woman, absolutely unrelated to the game, had been victimized wrongfully. Apparently, the Indian media finds it amusing to fabricate facts and construct sensational pieces on the personal lives of ‘stars’, but it promptly takes offence when there are repercussions of its acts. It is okay to barge in on people’s personal space, but it’s never okay to be treated with the same amount of disrespect.

Kohli certainly did have time to ponder after the incident. We can rest assured that he reflected on the remarks he made, the things he said. Obviously, as the reporter claims, there was a shocking case of mistaken identity and no one but Kohli has to bear the brunt of responsibility for it. His act was brash and he didn’t adhere to the norms of social mannerisms. But he has moved on, and so should we.

What’s done is done

The fact that BCCI has not shied away from chastising one of its cherished cricketers augurs well, not just for the board-media relationship, but also for the off-field code of conduct. That Kohli has been asked to “maintain the dignity of the Indian team at all times” speaks volumes about the board’s desire that “this kind of incident should not be repeated in future.”

That, however, has not succeeded in preventing Jasvinder Sidhu, the aggrieved journalist, to lodge a complaint to the ICC against Kohli, saying “no apology” had been tendered. The apology, as one faction claims, had been relayed via another journalist. The drama continues to unfold and the media, as habit dictates, continues to make a huge deal over a ‘controversy’ that lacks foundation.

While the whining for admission of guilt and howling for the need to comfort a bruised ego seem a little over-the-top, it’s pretty clear that a mistake has been committed and the victim deserves a request for forgiveness. So if Sidhu stands his ground and demands a direct apology, there is no reason why Kohli should not comply and get it over with.

The country has, and will always have, graver problems that need attention.