Virat Kohli causes uproar with 'leave India' comment Published duration 8 November 2018

image copyright Reuters image caption Kohli's remarks have sparked outrage on social media

India cricket captain Virat Kohli is embroiled in controversy after lashing out at a cricket fan who said he preferred English and Australian batsmen to Indian players.

"I don't think you should live in India, go and live somewhere else," Kohli told him in a video recording.

He was responding to messages during the launch of his mobile app on Monday.

The video went viral and prompted a torrent of criticism against Kohli on social media.

The 30-year-old cricketer has been hailed as one of the greatest batsmen in the world and is often touted as India's cricket megastar since national legend Sachin Tendulkar retired in 2013.

He responded to the backlash by saying he was "all for freedom of choice", adding: "I guess trolling isn't for me guys, I'll stick to getting trolled!"

In the video, Kohli is seen reading out a message from a cricket fan who described him as an "overrated batsman". He also said he enjoyed watching batsmen from English and Australian teams rather than the current Indian team, who the fan referred to as "these Indians".

"Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? I don't mind you not liking me, but I don't think you should live in our country and like other things," Kohli said in his response. He added that the fan should get his "priorities straight".

Social media users had been quick to call out Kohli over his remarks - and many referred to past instances in which he had praised sportspeople of other nationalities.

Harsha Bhogle, a prominent cricket commentator and journalist, also weighed in on the controversy.

Some others mocked Kohli's response.

This isn't the first time Kohli has been in the spotlight for controversial statements.

In 2016, when India's federal government cancelled 86% of the country's currency, Kohli called it the "greatest move" he has ever encountered in politics.

The remark sparked criticism because the surprise decision had disrupted the lives of millions of Indians.

image copyright Getty Images image caption Kohli has been hailed as one of the greatest batsmen in the world

The statement, he writes, is "probably an extension of the nationalist narrative that modern India tries to propagate".

Last month, Kohli became the fastest batsman to reach 10,000 one-day international runs in a match against West Indies.

He achieved the feat in his 205th innings and surpassed Tendulkar, who did it in 259 innings in 2001.