Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed his satisfaction with being “trolled” after Team India’s significant victory over Zimbabwe in the second T20 International match. The Indian team, led by a stellar performance from Abhishek Sharma, won by 100 runs in Harare, with Sharma scoring the third-fastest century for India in T20Is.
Tharoor took to social media to congratulate the team and highlighted their impressive turnaround from their earlier defeat.
Previously, Tharoor had criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) following Team India’s loss to Zimbabwe in the series’ first match. In a tweet, he described the BCCI as “arrogant” and accused it of underestimating its opponents. Tharoor’s comments stirred controversy as they seemed to express dissatisfaction with the Indian cricket administration’s handling of the team.
Shashi Tharoor
In response to Tharoor’s earlier criticism, the BJP seized the opportunity to criticize him and Congress. They questioned whether Tharoor and his party would apologize for their negative remarks about the Indian team. The BJP’s criticism focused on what they perceived as Congress’s tendency to undermine national pride and achievements due to political differences with the ruling party.
The Kerala unit of the BJP joined the fray, accusing Tharoor of disparaging the nation during a time when national unity should be emphasized. They condemned Tharoor for using the cricket team’s defeat to further his political agenda, which they felt was inappropriate given the context of sports and national pride.
Tharoor’s comments and the ensuing political backlash reflect a larger debate about the intersection of sports and politics in India. While Tharoor’s initial criticism was directed at the BCCI’s management, the political response highlights how sports victories and defeats can become focal points for broader political discourse.
