Why social media is the new playground for cricketers

Scene one: Actress Anushka Sharma gets into character and impersonates a die-hard cricket fan, urging Virat Kohli to smack a ball for four. Resting beside her, husband Kohli - the target of the harmless dig - shakes his head, apparently not very amused. Fans, though, lap it up.

Scene two: Yuvraj Singh, in the middle of a rapid-fire session with Jasprit Bumrah, puts the crafty India seamer on the spot, asking: "Who is the best batsman - Virat Kohli or Sachin Tendulkar?" Bumrah's attempts to dodge the uncomfortable question prove futile. He eventually goes with Tendulkar.

Scene three: Rafael Nadal is struggling to connect with his great rival Roger Federer on Instagram. After a few awkward minutes, he breaks into a relieved smile on finally seeing the Swiss great's face on camera. Andy Murray can't resist taunting the famed Spaniard. "He can win 52 French Opens but not work Instagram," the Briton quips.

COVID-19 may have brought sporting activities across the world to a halt, but thanks to technology, your favourite sporting icons have found a novel way to keep themselves busy and in good cheer. By posting quirky videos and conducting live chats with colleagues and teammates on Instagram, they have set a trend that has captured the imagination. From Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Brazilian football great Ronaldo to India's own superstars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, all have shifted base to live interactions on social media.

With regular journalists absent, the mood, as you would expect, is as relaxed as it gets. "Insta chats with fellow cricketers are great for us because we tend to open up more with those with whom we've played, or those who've played the sport," said veteran wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel. "For example, when I chatted with RP (Singh), it was easier for me to open up about the disappointment of not being picked for the 2007-08 tour of Australia."

Harbhajan Singh, Patel's former India teammate, agreed. The seasoned offspinner took part in an Insta live chat with Rohit Sharma recently where he discussed his rivalry with Ricky Ponting, saying how the Australian batting great had begun to "get out just by looking at my face".

"When two cricketers or any two sportspersons are talking, they usually end up talking about some story or the other which the public may not have heard about before. Even the media may not know about it," Harbhajan told TOI. "You have a comfort level with your own people. You can chat or talk anything but you know that there are thousands of people watching this so you have to still censor a few things and say it in a right way. You don't want something wrong coming out because kids are also watching."

It's not just light-hearted banter that the athletes are indulging in. During the first episode of 'Double Trouble' a postlockdown show launched by Baseline Ventures - a leading Indian sports, event and licensing company - co-hosts Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana were in conversation with badminton star PV Sindhu when the trio began discussing the challenges of competing during their periods.

"This particular clip has now gone viral," said Tuhin Mishra, MD Baseline Ventures, who manages the three sportspersons, in addition to several other Indian athletes. "With all due respect, I know a journalist will not be able to ask that question. Even if you ask, probably the other person might not respond because these are very sensitive topics."

Veteran journalist Ayaz Memon pointed to two key factors behind this rising digital trend. "It's like two superstars are having a conversation and you can see it and eavesdrop. It's something you've probably never seen before. That's where the attraction is. But that has been made possible by two things, one is of course technology. The other is they are all in the same boat," he said.

While Harbhajan feels this is merely the effect of the lockdown, Mishra sees it differently. He explained how these live chats could fundamentally alter the manner in which digital content is consumed. "Trust me, this is here to stay. This is definitely very interesting content. And the beauty is it does not have a shelf life.

"After this lockdown, a lot of people will appreciate that it's a complete waste of time and money to be creating these fancy sets, etc. At the end of the day, I want to see someone speak, and speak from his heart," he said.

(With inputs from Gaurav Gupta)