Aakash Chopra, the commentator and former India opener, has taken down a troll on Twitter who targetted young Rajasthan Royals (RR) batsman Yashaswi Jaiswal, saying he belonged to “the tuk-tuk academy”.
Tuk-tuk academy is a usage popular on social media in reference to slow batting. After RR’s crushing loss to Delhi Capitals on Friday – they were bundled out for 138, with Jaiswal scoring a watchful 36-ball 34 – certain sections of fans targetted the 18-year-old, who has struggled in his maiden IPL campaign, scoring 6 and 0 in his two previous outings in IPL 2020.
A Twitter account titled ‘tuk tuk academy’ posted a photoshopped picture of Jaiswal along with the Chennai Super Kings duo of Kedar Jadhav and MS Dhoni – both of whom have also copped flak for their strike-rates this season – with the caption: “Yashasvi Jaiswal new member of our tuk tuk academy. One day he will do the same for CSK. Future of the thala tuk tuk academy is safe”.
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Chopra dismantled the troll in a series of tweets, saying: “Have a heart. That’s all I’ll tell you. Leave the kid alone please. I’m sure that senior players can take a joke but it’s unfair to expect same maturity from a 19yo [18].”
The troll’s tweet has since been deleted. However, Chopra also reacted to someone who suggested it was merely a joke, and that trolling would make them better players. “Cricket was played before the advent of social media too,” he said. “Trolling and performing are not connected. If you don’t see the difference, the joke is on you.”
Before mocking a 19yo cricketer, please ask yourself—what were you doing when you were 19? The kid you’re making fun of has already represented India at U-19 level, was Man of the Tournament at the World Cup & has scored a double-century in List-A cricket for Mumbai #YashasviBhav
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) October 9, 2020
Jaiswal is one of the highest rated young batsmen in India – still a teenager, he has already scored a first-class double-century, and was named Player of the Tournament at the Under-19 World Cup in South Africa earlier this year. He was bought by RR for an eye-catching INR 2.4 crore in the auction on December 2019, but the figure has added to the pressure.
However, Chopra has thrown his weight behind him. “Before mocking a 19yo cricketer, please ask yourself – what were you doing when you were 19?,” Chopra said on Twitter. “The kid you’re making fun of has already represented India at U-19 level, was Man of the Tournament at the World Cup & has scored a double-century in List-A cricket for Mumbai #YashasviBhav”
RR will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in their seventh IPL 2020 clash on Sunday.
