The jugalbandi that is driving Team India

As India's innings against South Africa at the Eden Gardens ended, two of the trending keywords on the social media platform X were 'selfish' and 'slow'. They disappeared by the time a Ravindra Jadeja-powered home team bowled the Proteas out for 83. But for a while it seemed like some people were watching a different game.

- Ashish Magotra

Virat Kohli had scored an unbeaten 101 but taken 121 balls. It wasn't the easiest of pitches to bat on and the spinners had got a fair bit of assistance. So the experienced pro, who was celebrating his 35th birthday, decided to hang in there and try to bat till the end. It was what the team wanted as well. But that didn't matter on social media -- some saw him as being 'selfish' and playing for his century. Others saw him as 'slow', dragging the team down.

Now, none of this is new. Everytime Rohit does well, a section of Kohli fans will find a way to be critical. The reverse is also true. The genisis of this 'trolling' lies in the quest to find who is better. It is strange social media rivalry built on rumours from their early years and fired up by a thirst to elevate their favourite to the top of the pile.

But does any of this truly hold any water? Does it even matter? In a recent chat on the TRS Clips YouTube channel, former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh spoke of his relationship with Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

"Me and Mahi are not close friends. We were friends because of cricket, we played together," said Yuvraj. "Mahi's lifestyle was very different from me… When me and Mahi went on the ground, we gave more than 100% to our country. In that, he was captain, I was vice-captain.”