'You can be Indian and also support the country of your birth' - Glenn Maxwell's wife Vini Raman hits back at hateful messages

Following Australia's victory over India in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Vini Raman, wife of Australian all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell, became the target of online abuse from Indian fans.

As Maxwell's good performance in the marquee event and the final at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium led Australia to their sixth World Cup title, Vini faced a wave of "hateful and vile" messages on her social media account.

In response to the online abuse, Vini took to Instagram to address the situation. Born and raised in Melbourne, she emphasised her Indian heritage but also asserted her right to support the country of her birth and upbringing, as well as the team her husband plays for. She urged fans to redirect their outrage towards more important global issues and highlighted the challenges faced by individuals navigating national loyalties and personal connections.

"aaaaand cue all the hateful vile DMs. stay classy... can't believe this needs to be said BUT you can be Indian and also support the country of your birth where you have been raised and more importantly the team your husband and father of your child plays in a no-brainer. take a chill pill and direct that outrage towards more important
world issues," she said.

The couple, who recently welcomed their son, Logan, in September, has been navigating the complexities of their dual national loyalties. Despite the unpleasant turn of events following Australia's World Cup victory, Vini Raman's response reflects a thoughtful and measured approach to handling online abuse and addressing the intersection of personal connections and national loyalties.

Coming to the match, Australia defeated India quite comfortably courtesy of a brilliant century by Travis Head and his partnership of 192 with Marnus Labuschagne who also scored a crucial fifty under immense pressure. They both showcased great composure and resilience and took their team home quite brilliantly. Head was declared as Player of The Match while star Indian batter, Virat Kohli was declared as Player of the Tournament.