Virat Kohli, India’s captain, slammed the internet bullies and abusers who attacked bowler Mohammed Shami after India’s 10-wicket loss to Pakistan in Dubai on October 24. In a virtual news conference before India’s match against New Zealand on October 31, Kohli dismissed the “spineless” trolls, implying that people on the inside don’t care about the “outside voice.”

“There’s a reason we’re on the pitch instead of those cowardly guys,” Kohli said. “It’s horrible and heartbreaking to watch people being abused. That’s why we’re doing what we’re doing and those cowardly people are doing what they’re doing.

Many individuals conceal their identity on social media and then attempt to troll the players, and it is the lowest moment in their life – all dramas outside due to their lack of self-confidence, we know how to support the players, there is no value from the outside voice,” says the Indian captain.

Shami, the sole Muslim player in the playing XI against Pakistan, was unfortunately targeted because of his religious views, while communal peace was interrupted in a few regions of the country the same day. “I believe that insulting someone because of their faith is the most pitiful thing a human being can do. Everyone has the freedom to express themselves. Never considered discriminating against someone because of their faith. This is essentially the lowest human potential one can work at.”

Virat Kohli targets those who abused Shami on Social Media

“That [religious beliefs] is a very holy and personal thing to each individual, and it should be left alone. People vent their annoyances because they clearly have no grasp of what we do as people. They have no idea how much work we put in on the field. They have no idea that someone like Mohammed Shami has won a lot of matches for India in the previous few years, and he’s been our major bowler, along with Jasprit Bumrah, when it comes to creating an effect.

We are doing what we are doing on the field. None of these individuals [trolls] is even close enough to do anything like that. They lack the confidence and the nerve to do so. That is my point of view.

As a group, we realise how important it is to keep together, to support individuals, and to concentrate on our abilities. Whether people on the outside depict the fact that India cannot afford to lose a game of cricket is none of our business since we play sport and understand how the sport works. As a result, how others think on the outside adds little value. We never focused on it, and we will never concentrate on it in the future.

If people can ignore that and his love for the nation, honestly, I don’t want to spend a single minute of my life giving any attention to the people, and neither does Shami or anybody else on the squad. We completely support him. We are completely behind him, and those who have assaulted him have the option of retaliating with more force if they so want.

Nothing can break our fraternity, our closeness inside the squad. As team captain, I can assure you that we have created a culture in which these things will not even be infiltrated, and that is an absolute promise from my end.”

Former cricketers supported Mohammed Shami

Shami was supported by a plethora of former cricketers. “The internet onslaught against Mohammad Shami is appalling, and we support him. He is a champion, and everyone wearing the India hat loves India much more than any internet mob. Shami, I am with you. Agle match mein dikado jalwa,” former India opener Virender Sehwag tweeted.

Sachin Tendulkar, too, praised Shami for his dedication, but he believed that, like any other player, the bowler had a bad day. “When we support #TeamIndia, we support every member of Team India.” @MdShami11 is a dedicated and world-class bowler. He had a bad day, just like every other athlete. “I support Shami and Team India.”