We've to respect somebody’s personal life: Pragyan Ojha on Virat Kohli’s decision to take paternity leave

After three ODIs, as many T20Is and one Test match against Australia down under, India captain Virat Kohli returns home as he and his wife actress Anushka Sharma, are expecting the birth of their first child. The 32-year-old was given permission for paternity leave by the BCCI ahead of the series. While one side of the social media praises the skipper's decision to be with his wife, the other side does not seem in favour of it.

Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has now joined the long list of cricketers who have appreciated and supported Virat Kohli's firm stance on this debate. Speaking at Sports Today's YouTube channel, the left-arm spinner said that one must respect the decision of the individual as to what he specifically wants to do.

"We have to respect somebody’s personal life. Whenever someone takes a decision, it is their call. He (Virat Kohli) was very clear that he wants to be there (for the birth of his child). His wife needs his support. And the message was sent to the BCCI before the tour started," he said.

When cricket is a professional sport, families mustn’t be dragged into all of these reckons Ojha.

"After losing the match, suddenly talking ill about the captain or anybody, and dragging their families in, is something very concerning. How can you drag anybody’s family into all this? Don’t drag their personal life into their professional one. These two things should be separated," he added.

"It is not like he wants to come back in the middle of the series, he had taken a call earlier. And the BCCI has rightfully given him that space. So, now why (the questioning)? Just because we lost the game. Yes, we are all in pain, we are all upset that we lost the Test match. But that doesn’t give us a right or anybody who is trolling, to do what they are doing," Pragyan Ojha said on Sports Today YouTube channel.