advertisementSimon Doull was among the few who criticised Virat Kohli for his strike-rate issues in the first half of IPL 2024.
I said a thousand great things about Virat Kohli, but I say one thing that might be slightly negative or construed to be negative, I get death threats," Simon Doull said during a chat with Dinesh Karthik on Cricbuzz.
SAME THING I SAID ABOUT BABAR: DOULLSimon Doull has not shied away from criticising star players.
Virat Kohli will be next seen in action in the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
The RCB star won the Orange Cap with 741 runs in 15 matches in IPL 2024.
Former New Zealand fast bowler-turned-commentator Simon Doull revealed he received death threats when he criticised Virat Kohli's performances during the recently-concluded IPL 2024 season, saying he never made it personal and that he shared a cordial relationship with the RCB superstar. Doull rued that most tend to ignore when he talks good about Kohli, stressing that he has faced backlash in the past for questioning the star batter's approach, especially in T20 cricket.
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Simon Doull was among the few who criticised Virat Kohli for his strike-rate issues in the first half of IPL 2024. Doull questioned Kohli's strike-rate in a game between RCB and LSG when the former captain took 10 balls to get from 42 to 50, hinting that he had played for personal milestones.
"He's too good to worry about what if he gets out. He's too good a player, and that was always my point around him. I said a thousand great things about Virat Kohli, but I say one thing that might be slightly negative or construed to be negative, I get death threats," Simon Doull said during a chat with Dinesh Karthik on Cricbuzz.
Karthik condemned the reaction from fans, urging the Indian cricket followers to understand the difference between constructive criticism and personal remarks.
"That's sad actually in India though. Because you go to basketball, you go to baseball, there are pundits who speak about the game. Somewhere, the Indian people, the fans should found out the difference between people talking personally and people who talk about the technical side of it. I think Virat appreciates it if you can find a difference," Karthik said.
SAME THING I SAID ABOUT BABAR: DOULL
Simon Doull has not shied away from criticising star players. The former New Zealand cricketer has faced backlash in the past for questioning Babar Azam's intent in T20 cricket.
However, Doull said he shares a good rapport with both Kohli and Babar, saying he has never found it hard to talk to the two players during broadcast duties.
"It's never personal. We've had great conversations. I've interviewed him at tosses, we've talked after games, there's never been an issue. It's the same thing I said about Babar and talked to him after the game. He also told me that the coach had said that same to him," he added.
Virat Kohli will be next seen in action in the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. The RCB star won the Orange Cap with 741 runs in 15 matches in IPL 2024. Kohli's departure to the USA was delayed due to paperwork issues and it remains to be seen if he would be available for India's first T20 World Cup warm-up match against Bangladesh on June 1.
