Virat Kohli is a cricket legend, a batting genius, and a fitness freak. He is also a man who loves to travel in style and comfort. But his recent trip from the Caribbean to India has raised some eyebrows and questions about the environmental impact of his travel.
Kohli, who led India to a historic series win against the West Indies, recently flew back home on a charter flight with his wife Anushka Sharma and some of his teammates. The flight, which reportedly cost around Rs 80 lakh, took off from Kingston, Jamaica, and landed in Mumbai, India, after a stopover in London, England.
The distance covered by the flight was about 14,000 km, which means that Kohli and his entourage emitted about 7.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person, according to an online carbon footprint calculator. That is equivalent to the annual emissions of an average Indian, or about 15 times the emissions of a regular economy class passenger on the same route.
Kohli’s lavish flight has sparked a debate on social media, where some fans have praised him for his achievements on the field, while others have criticized him for his indifference to the climate crisis. Some have even compared him to Sachin Tendulkar, who took a more eco-friendly mode of transport after his last international match in 2013.
Tendulkar, who retired as the highest run-scorer in both Tests and ODIs, chose to travel by train from Mumbai to Pune with his wife Anjali and some friends. The train journey, which lasted about three hours, covered a distance of 192 km and emitted only 0.01 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person. That is about 760 times less than Kohli’s flight.
Tendulkar’s humble gesture was hailed by many as a sign of his simplicity and humility. He also said that he wanted to relive his childhood memories of travelling by train with his teammates. He even mingled with the other passengers and posed for selfies with them.
While on the other hand, Kohli’s flight may have been convenient and comfortable, but it vehemently contributed to the global warming that is threatening the future of humanity and the planet. Kohli also owns a private jet.
Charter flights are flights that are not part of a regular schedule and are hired by individuals or groups for specific purposes. They have significant environmental impacts because they emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), contrails and particulates that contribute to climate change.
Charter flights also tend to have lower occupancy rates than commercial flights, which means they produce more emissions per passenger.
