5 Indian cricketers who were criticized for their off-field lives

Cricket is a religion in India, and the emotions attached with it cannot be deciphered by the non-followers of the game. India’s wins are followed by festival like celebrations and the defeats are often followed by tear-filled analysis. The emotional followers sometimes take the defeats too personally though, and end up targeting the players or even criticizing their wives and girlfriends for the defeat.

There were reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would not be allowing wives and girlfriends to accompany the Indian cricketers during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. Though the BCCI rubbished the reports later on, criticism for and against the idea was rampant.

On that note, let’s take a look at the cricketers who were criticized for their personal lives while playing for the team.

#1 Mohammad Azharuddin

The former Indian skipper was the hero of the nation till the Indian team's poor performance and low morale changed it all. Azhar was in a relationship with Sangeeta Bijlani, which wasn’t much of a concern until she was seen at the Eden Gardens, watching the India-SL semi-final during the ICC World Cup 1996.

Many claimed Sangeeta was the reason for India’s loss and Azhar's disappointing performance. The defeat was followed by widespread criticism and Manoj Prabhakar commented on Azhar skipping the World Cup practices, saying: "I don't know what exercise he was doing and with whom."

According to reports, Azhar took Sangeeta on tour after getting permission from the board. However, former BCCI chief Madhavrao Scindia later said, "The example set by the captain is disappointing."

#2 Yuvraj Singh

Yuvraj Singh is the man whose contribution with the ball and bat helped Team India win the World Cup after 28 long years in 2011. After scoring 362 runs and picking up 15 wickets, Yuvraj was named as the Man of the Tournament.

But the world-class player also became a victim of public criticism when he was briefly linked with Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.

During India’s tour of Australia in 2008, the two were seen dining together. That was a time when the memory of the six sixes at the 2007 T20 World Cup was still deeply embedded in the minds of the fans.

Yuvraj was the hero to the nation but the disastrous performance in the Test series, which was supposed to establish him in the Indian middle order, was unforgivable for the fans. Many of them readily believed Deepika was a distraction for the man.

#3 Virat Kohli

The aggressive Virat Kohli is a world-class player, and it is an absolute pleasure to watch him play. Spectators are in awe when the Delhiite takes on the opposition and smashes sixes at will. But he is also never too far away from criticism, for some reason or the other.

Kohli and Anushka Sharma seeing each other was an open secret. And when the run machine failed to score during the semi-final of ICC World Cup 2015, the fans lost their composure.

Anushka Sharma, who was also present to cheer on Virat Kohli and Co, bore the brunt of the blame for the team's defeat.

#4 Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi

Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is one of the greatest Indian captains ever. In the time when Pataudi played, the scenario was quite different. Back then, girlfriends and wives were not allowed to accompany the cricketers or watch cricket matches. But Sharmila Tagore, who was the Nawab’s girlfriend then, did go to England to watch him play.

The veteran actress once said: “On one or two occasions, it was believed that I was somehow responsible for his poor performance. It is believed that if you are an actor or a cricketer from a privileged background, then you're spoilt and an attention seeker.”

#5 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly’s alleged affair with South Indian actress Nagma gained prominence in early 2001. That was the time when India was getting ready to play against Australia at home. Rumours spread that the two had visited a temple in South India and had also performed some puja that was meant for married couples.

Sourav Ganguly’s wife, Dona, had her say about the situation and was quoted by Sify: “It’s all rubbish. I’m extremely angry at the way some newspapers are trying to defame us. It’s unfortunate that Sourav become the victim of such things.”

Though Ganguly denied it, a couple of years later, Nagma herself spoke about the issue but without taking names. The actor was quoted by Savvy magazine as saying: “As long as there is no denial of each other’s existence in each other’s life, any person can say anything they want. There was a career at stake, besides other things, so one had to part. One had to weigh a lot of things, rather than be on an ego trip and insist on being together.”