HOW VIRUSHKA WON BACK THE NARRATIVE

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli may be the man of the moment — clinching his 50th one-day international hundred, smashing records, and finally leading Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to their maiden IPL title. But alongside this sporting legend stands another silent, glamorously chic, victor: Anushka Sharma.

- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan Entertainment Editor

The Bollywood actress-producer, once vilified as a “distraction” and a so-called “bad omen,” has emerged as a symbol of grace, grit, and quiet resilience. What’s more: Kohli gave her the ultimate nod in his post-winning speech: She’s his pillar and his biggest support system. Ladies, don’t settle for anything less now.

There was a time when Sharma was dragged through the mud by rabid fans and lazy cricketing pundits. If Kohli won, it was his genius. If he failed, it was somehow his partner/wife’s fault.

WITCH HUNT

The rules of the witch hunt were simple and sexist. Online petitions urged her to stay away from stadiums. Even public figures joined the pile-on — most notably, Sunil Gavaskar’s snide 2020 IPL commentary that attributed Kohli’s form slump to Anushka bowling to him during lockdown.