You See Only Trolls These Days: Aakash Chopra on Ravindra Jadeja
The ongoing Test series between England and India has been a thrilling one, with both teams giving it their all on the pitch. However, amidst the excitement and thrill of the game, we often see a different kind of battle taking place – the battle of words, where critics and trolls take to social media to shred apart the performances of cricketers. Former India batter Aakash Chopra recently waded into this fray, criticizing those who trolled India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja over his batting performance in the 3rd Test at Lord’s.
For those who may not be aware, Jadeja failed to score runs while batting alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj on Day 5 of the Test, which ultimately led to India’s loss. In the aftermath of the match, Jadeja faced a barrage of criticism on social media, with many trolls questioning his ability to bat and wondering why he was persisting with his batting.
However, Aakash Chopra, who has played for India in the past, was quick to defend Jadeja, saying, “You see only trolls these days. The pitch wasn’t easy to bat on. The same keyboard warriors would have criticised Jadeja had he gotten out while playing a shot.”
Chopra’s words are a stark reminder of the harsh realities of social media, where people often take to the internet to vent their frustrations and criticize others without putting in the effort to understand the context of the situation. As a former cricketer himself, Chopra knows what it’s like to be under the microscope, and he’s not afraid to speak his mind.
The fact is that Jadeja’s batting performance in the 3rd Test was not exactly impressive. He faced 14 deliveries and scored just 2 runs, which led to India’s downfall. However, to say that he’s a bad batsman or that he shouldn’t be allowed to bat at all is unfair and simplistic. Jadeja is an all-rounder, and his batting skills are an important part of his overall game.
Moreover, Jadeja’s batting has been decent in the past, especially in Test matches. In his last 10 Test innings, he’s averaged over 30, which is a respectable average for a lower-order batsman. And let’s not forget that Jadeja has also taken wickets in bulk, and his ability to bowl spin is a crucial part of India’s bowling attack.
So, why then do people feel the need to troll Jadeja on social media? Is it because they’re jealous of his success on the pitch? Or is it because they’re simply looking for a way to get attention and stir up controversy?
Whatever the reason, it’s clear that the world of social media is a breeding ground for trolls and haters. And as cricketers, Jadeja and others like him have to deal with this kind of criticism on a daily basis. It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it.
As Aakash Chopra said, the pitch at Lord’s was not easy to bat on. Jadeja and India’s top order batsmen struggled to score runs, and it’s unfair to single out Jadeja for criticism. Moreover, as Chopra pointed out, if Jadeja had gotten out while playing a shot, the same trolls would have criticized him for that too.
In other words, criticism is one thing, but it’s another thing entirely to be cruel and heartless. As cricketers, Jadeja and others like him deserve our respect and admiration, not our scorn and ridicule.
So, the next time you’re tempted to troll a cricketer on social media, take a step back and think about the kind of person you’re becoming. Are you contributing to a positive and supportive environment, or are you just trying to stir up trouble and get attention?
As Aakash Chopra said, “You see only trolls these days.” Let’s hope that’s not true, and that we can all learn to be kinder and more compassionate towards each other.
