'Say NO to hate-mongering' - KKR after Dan Chrisitan and his pregnant partner face online abuse over RCB's IPL exit

Kolkata Knight Riders have come forward in support of Australia’s Glenn Maxwell and Daniel Christian, who both have been at the receiving end of social media abuse after their team Royal Challengers Bangalore lost the IPL 2021 Eliminator clash in Sharjah on October 11.

In a heartening gesture, the KKR franchise took to its official Twitter and posted a video where wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik urged people to be kind and not put anyone under undue suffering over a bad day at the office.

“People don’t realise the gravity of what they say, be it memes, be it videos or just the use of words. It’s a spur of the moment thing for them, instinctively what they feel they put it out there, not realising what the person reading it will go through,” Karthik said.

Say NO to hate-mongering.

Cricketers are subjected to online-abuse way too often. It's high time we take a strong stand against it.

Victories and Losses are a part of any sport. We stand by you @RCBTweets @danchristian54 @Gmaxi_32. We've been there too 💜❤️ #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/eCUGroEbyI

— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) October 12, 2021

Earlier on October 12, all-rounder Dan Christian revealed that he and his pregnant wife Jorgia Dunn were targeted by the social media audience on the latter’s Instagram account. “I didn’t have a great game tonight, but that’s sport. However please leave her out of it,” Christian posted on Instagram, revealing the acrimonious jibes taken by many behind the mask of anonymity.

His teammate Maxwell also took to Twitter, not mincing any words in giving back to the deplorable trolls. “Some of the garbage that has been following on social media is absolutely disgusting!” he wrote. “We are human beings who are giving our best each and every day. Try being a decent person maybe instead of spreading abuse.

“Thank you to the REAL fans that shared love and appreciation for the players giving their all! Unfortunately, there is some horrible people out there that make social media a horrible place to be. It is unacceptable!!! Please don’t be like them.”

Maxwell was easily one of Challengers’ best batter, amassing 513 runs at 42.75 and a strike rate above 144, including six half-centuries, of which four came in the UAE leg. Christian, RCB’s newest recruit, however, had a forgettable tournament, managing only 14 runs from nine games at an average of just 2.33, while with the ball too, he could only manage four wickets.

In the Eliminator against KKR, he was at the receiving end of a Sunil Narine onslaught, who smashed three sixes off him in an over to change the course of the game. RCB did manage to pull things back but could only delay the loss as Morgan’s men chased the target with a couple of balls to spare to knock RCB out.

pic.twitter.com/eKQRU3h2XP

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) October 11, 2021

RCB, too, took to their official Twitter and expressed their support to Christian and his family.

Winning and losing are a part of this beautiful game we all love. Our players put in the hard work day in and day out to reach the level they’re at. They give it their everything to try and win the game for us! #PlayBold #WeAreChallengers #SayNoToOnlineAbuse

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) October 12, 2021