Fans slam 'hypocrite' Virat Kohli for his Diwali message after celebrating birthday with firecrackers

Team India captain Virat Kohli has been slammed by the fans for his Diwali message on Saturday. The batting star is currently in Australia for the upcoming series against the hosts. Team India left for Australia from the UAE last week, just a day after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League in the gulf country.

India are scheduled to play three ODIs, as many T20Is and four Tests in Australia. Virat Kohli will lead the team in the limited-overs format as well as the first Test in Adelaide before heading home. The 32-year old has been granted paternity leave by the BCCI. Anushka Sharma is due to give birth in early January.

Kohli won’t be joining the team for the later Tests either due to the strict rules in place because of the ongoing pandemic. Thus Team India will have to play the last three Tests without their inspirational skipper.

Fans slam Virat Kohli

Ahead of the start of the series in Australia, Virat Kohli offended a huge number of fans in the country with his message for Diwali. He posted a video from his room in Australia to wish everyone a happy Diwali and used the opportunity to give the fans a lesson on environmental protection. He urged everyone to not burst crackers in order to protect the environment and celebrate the auspicious festival with a “simple diya and sweets”.

“A very happy Diwali from me to you and your families. May God bless you with peace, prosperity, and happiness this Diwali. Please remember do not burst crackers, protect the environment and have fun at home with your loved ones with a simple Diya and sweets on this auspicious occasion. God bless you all. Take care,” said Virat Kohli.

His message, however, did not go down well with many as they slammed him for his ‘do not burst crackers’ message. The fans called out the Indian captain for his ‘hypocrisy’. They started circulating a video of Kohli enjoying the firecracker show on his birthday just about a week ago. Kohli celebrated his birthday on November 5 in the UAE and was seen enjoying a firecracker show with his wife and teammates.

Here are some of the reactions to Virat Kohli’s tweet:

Why do they always have issue with Hindu festivals whether it's Diwali or Holi pic.twitter.com/GdKKCc7C6Q

— Hardik (@Humor_Silly) November 14, 2020

That's why I have started hating this fake Hindu @imVkohli & her Leftist wife @AnushkaSharma Bc gyan apna ghar m rakho aur mehengi gadiya aur AC chalana sabse pehle band karo #ViratKohli https://t.co/w4jALT9HmI

— Madhur Gupta (@madhurgupta121) November 14, 2020

Practice what you preach @imVkohli https://t.co/xdzYW63Ume

— Rajive Sood🇮🇳 (@SoodRajive) November 14, 2020

Namaste, virat “hypocrite “ Kohli 🙏 we don’t need you to preach about what has to be and what not to be done this deepavali. Stop being a woke n be a man. Not just somebody’s husband https://t.co/WOX4JghosG

— Truth First (@indian___first) November 14, 2020

Mr. @imVkohli we are your fan …fan of your game fan for your contribution for the nation….but please please don't be hypocrite and don't preach us ……on Cramer bursting or on our any holy festivals….mind it…🙏🙏🙏🙏 https://t.co/EFKZiZrj4U

— Jitendra H.chopra (@jhchopra) November 14, 2020

HYPOCRISY at it's best
HYPOCRITES and OPPORTUNISTS of India 1.FAKE BOLLYWOOD 2. CRICKET they are working on
FAKE NATIONALIST agendasThe MOST RUBBISH Industry of India after DRUGGYWOOD, GUTTER WOOD BULLYWOOD, BOLLYDAWOODS is CRICKET @imVkohli @AnushkaSharma #YehDiwaliSushantWali https://t.co/ApVvQHuGct

— Aishwarya Biswas (@Aishwar31203183) November 14, 2020

it is the tradition to burst fire crackers after winning the trophy in IPL. To save the environment he hasn't won the IPL trophy yet. Truly a legend 🙏 https://t.co/3PRvhep2mt

— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) November 14, 2020

@sudip_ind @GoofyOlives
Yeh lijiye.
One more Hypocrite https://t.co/c9HbasvHvB

— Peace lover (@Peacelo14780768) November 14, 2020

This Guy just had Firecracker full of IPL Final.

He is telling us how to celebrate, did he tell the same to BCCI or IPL organisers? https://t.co/ZciPl6lK0j

— Aashish (@kashmiriRefuge) November 14, 2020

prOtEcT tHE eNVirONment https://t.co/BTgm4Z4RfY pic.twitter.com/enC8gkRwIq

— Pranjal (@Singhalsome) November 14, 2020

Hypocrisy at its core https://t.co/1kZzZjW5yX

— Santosh K (@mumbaikarrr) November 14, 2020

I shall travel in Chartered planes, I shall own 100s of fuel guzzling cars, ACs will be switched on in my my house years round. But you, you mustn't celebrate your festival properly. Oh, and happy diwali.#BallPellGyaanNahi https://t.co/58krdj1lYt

— Ash Aro (@Logictriumphs) November 14, 2020

Cricket fields don't require cutting trees. Water is not wasted. IPL doesn't burst crackers. Cars, team buses & ✈️don't use up fossil fuel. Marriages n adv don't burst crackers. Prods endorsed by dem r all eco friendly. Environment destroyed only due 2 bursting crackers on Diwali https://t.co/Wrr0d2PLWT

— Communalist Hindu (@Bauddhika108) November 14, 2020

You play cricket, we gave you love, adulation, status, endorsements and recognition.
NEVER, EVER make the mistake of imagining you are a social, religious or thought leader of the Hindus.
Stop preaching, you dont have the credentials for it. https://t.co/pNJajfkBsg

— Nisheeth Sharan (@nisheethsharan) November 14, 2020

Bloody hypocrites. https://t.co/nO5D7vRgOB

— Karan Agrawal (@karanagrawl) November 14, 2020

Let's call a spade a spade. This man Kohli doesn't have a spine to tell people to stop slaughtering animals for some festival but will only tell me to stop using crackers because animals are scared of sound. So fear of sound of animals >>>>>> Life.
This wokeness is a disease. https://t.co/ll9VLbspny

— Maya (@Sharanyashettyy) November 14, 2020

Do crackers bursting on this hypocrite birthday emit oxygen? Boycott hypocrite Virat Kohli and expose his double standards. https://t.co/WCtxhux5W7

— Advocate YK (@AdvocateYK) November 14, 2020