Chess legend Viswanathan Anand sympathises with Virat Kohli for his 'Live Outside India' comment

A lot has been made up regarding Indian skipper Virat Kohli's 'live outside India' comment to a cricket fan who stated that he 'prefers watching Australia and England batsmen more than Indians'. Some termed his statement as unnecessary, others termed it as arrogant while there were many who backed him for it. Now joining in the debate is Chess legend Viswanathan Anand. 

The man who is India's first Grandmaster has stated that he sympathises with the Indian skipper, because he 'got emotional'. Speaking to PTI in Kolkata, he said,

"I think he lost control. He got a bit emotional and he just said the first thing that came to his mind. That’s the attitude he is comfortable with. In sport, you see all characters and this is the character that fits him best. I try to be myself and in the end you should be comfortable in your own skin."

While the likes of Harsha Bhogle and Sanjay Manjrekar have seemed to disagree with Kohli's statement, people like Mohammad Kaif and BJP MP Subramanian Swamy have defended him.

During a Q&A session with fans on Twitter for his official Virat Kohli Official App, when a random individual questioned Kohli's batting ability and mentioned preferring to watch other countries batsman, the Indian skipper got a bit angry.

The individual's question to Kohli read, "Over-rated batsman and personally I see nothing special in his batting. I enjoy watching English and Australian batsmen more than these Indians."

WATCH: Virat Kohli Asks Cricket Fan To 'Live Outside India' For Saying 'He Enjoys Watching English, Australian Batsmen More'

The Indian skipper, in his own style, replied by stating that any individual who doesn't like his own country's team should leave the country and reside somewhere else.

"Okay, I don’t think you should live in India, then you should go and live somewhere else no. Why are you living in our country and loving other countries? But I don’t mind you not liking me, but I don’t think you should live in our country and like other things. Get your priorities right," he said.

Though, days after the video went viral, he issued a clarification of his statement, maintaining that his words were misinterpreted and that he is 'all for freedom of speech and expression'.