'Beyond blessed': Cricket world erupts over Virat Kohli baby news
Cricket fans have erupted with delight after Virat Kohli announced the birth of his baby daughter late on Monday night.
Kohli broke the news just hours after the Indian cricket team fought back to hold Australia to a draw in the third Test of the series at the SCG.
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“We are thrilled to share with you that we have been blessed with a baby girl this afternoon,” Kohli wrote on Twitter.
“Anushka and the baby are both healthy and we are feeling beyond blessed to start this new chapter of our lives.”
Kohli flew home to India after the first Test against Australia to be by his wife’s side.
Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar was among those who congratulated the new parents.
“May her life be blessed with good health & love,” he wrote on Twitter.
Teammate Hardik Pandya wrote: “Congratulations brother and @anushkasharma. Welcome to parenthood.
“A big hug to the little one, who’ll give you happiness like you’ve never experienced before.”
Aussie superstar David Warner also wrote: “Awesome news, congrats buddy. DM me for some tips”.
Within an hour, Kohli’s post had garnered more than two million likes on Twitter.
Congratulations @imVkohli & @AnushkaSharma on the arrival of the little angel in your lives!
May her life be blessed with good health & love. https://t.co/AgPdz6HALM— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 11, 2021
Congratulations https://t.co/0t0d66MPt2
— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) January 11, 2021
Congratulations @imVkohli and @AnushkaSharma for lil princess❤️❤️.. Best phase of life starts now.. God bless you all.. much love
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) January 11, 2021
Big congratulations to both of you 😇
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2021
Daughters are the biggest blessing to those who are the luckiest! Congratulations @anushkasharma @imVkohli and welcome to the wonderful world of parenting https://t.co/ZMMWu0TKgN
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 11, 2021
Kohli is a father from now🥺
Oh my God ❤❤— TRAVELLING SOLDIER 🐎🐎 (@che_gue_vara__) January 11, 2021
Kohli returned to India on paternity leave after playing in the opening Test in Adelaide, which his team lost by eight wickets.
India fight for incredible draw with Australia
Kohli’s news came while India were already celebrating their hard-fought draw with Australia at the SCG.
Australia and India are set for a winner-takes-all Test in Brisbane after the tourists pulled off the greatest escape at the SCG in more than 50 years.
With the odds stacked against them, Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin batted through 256 balls to force a draw in the third Test on Monday as India finished 5-334.
It left India’s score short of the 407 required for victory, but their 131-over effort to survive felt like a great victory.
The draw capped one of India’s most resilient efforts, keeping the series level at 1-1 with the final Test at the Gabba from Friday.
India looked flat on day four, amid claims of racial abuse from the crowd and uncertainty over the future of their tour.
On the field, Vihari battled through the final session with a hamstring injury, while Ravindra Jadeja was prepared to walk out to bat with a dislocated thumb.
Australia were at times their own worst enemy, with captain Tim Paine dropping three catches, including one diving in front of David Warner from Vihari with 8.1 overs to go.
“We created enough chances to win,” Paine said.
“It was an awesome game of Test cricket. I thought India fought bloody hard like we knew they would.
“But we're clearly we are disappointed not to get a win.”
with AAP
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