NEW DELHI: Former New Zealand captain
Ross Taylor
has showered praise on former India captain
Virat Kohli
, describing him as a "global superstar in the world of sports," transcending cricket alone.
Kohli, who boasts a massive fan following on social media, has garnered admiration not only for his cricketing prowess but also for his broader impact on sports culture.
Speaking about the influence of social media on a cricketer's life, Taylor highlighted that players are now more accessible, which he views as a positive development in the modern era.
Taylor, who has represented New Zealand in 112 Tests and 236 ODIs, shared his perspectives in Episode six of the podcast series "180 Not Out."
"Players are putting outposts endorsing products and things like that. Who would have thought of that in 2008? Someone like Kohli, who is a superstar in the world of cricket, but is also a global superstar in the world of sports. In terms of Instagram and social media, he’s up there with Ronaldo and Messi!"
"Yeah, I think you are more accessible, I don’t think sportsmen are just as critiqued. I think movie stars, Bollywood stars, politicians are all under the microscope now because of social media but I don’t think that is a bad thing," Taylor told Raman Raheja, a media professional, and creator who put together this Podcast “180 Not Out”.
Former Australian fast bowler
Brett Lee
expressed mixed sentiments about the invention of the mobile camera in the context of social media. He remarked that while the mobile camera has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks, particularly in the realm of social media.
Lee reflected on the evolution of social media from its early days to its present state, highlighting how it has transformed over the years.
"In the early 2000s, when the phones came in, people would take a photo with you. There was an autograph and a photo. In mid-2015 and 2020, what happens now is that the players are always on show now. Anyone that is playing in the Indian Premier League, they are always on show, they go out for dinner, and someone comes with a phone camera," said Lee.
"The phone camera was the best thing and the worst thing ever invented. The best thing is to capture beautiful memories with your family and friends, and as a spectator and lover of the sport, you also capture those moments. But also, the privacy now, for players, has been cut in half because you are on show everywhere.
"If you are having dinner with your family, your loved ones, friends…someone takes a snap and it goes instantly all over the world. Now, you also have to be able to deal with that and accept that," he added.
Former Australian cricketer
Michael Bevan
was also featured in the podcast series, offering his insights. The esteemed batsman underscored the potential impact of social media on the performance of young players.
"The younger generation uses social media that would impact their situation and circumstance and career. They would have to make a decision on whether they want to read the comments, or how much they want to post," said Bevan.
"I could imagine it would be extra difficult for some of the modern-day players, with T20 cricket, with social media…but as a player, you’ve always got to make the decision on how you handle. Do you want to read things or do you not want to read things? That’s the most important thing… to understand yourself, and to understand your game," he added.
(With IANS inputs)
English (US) ·