Virat Kohli goes all Pink, lends support to McGrath Foundation at Sydney Test with beautiful gesture

Indian cricket team skipper, Virat Kohli, has always put his step forward for the promotion of social initiatives. It was one such case during the 4th and final Test between India and Australia, which is being branded as the ‘Pink Test’. The members of the Australian team wore pink caps instead of the usual ‘Baggy Green’ before the start of the match in Sydney to lend support to former speedster Glenn McGrath’s foundation in the fight against Breast Cancer.

To do his bit for the noble cause, Kohli had a pink colour on his gloves, pads and shoes, while also wielding a specially-made bat which too had a pink sticker and grip on it. The Sydney Test in January is known to blend itself in pink colours, and the money raised in this particular fixture goes to the McGrath Foundation, which was formed in the year 2005.

The legendary Australian paceman’s wife Jane lost her battle with breast and bone cancer, as she passed away in 2008, aged 42. Glenn, hence, took up the responsibility of raising awareness against the disease through his foundation. The first ‘Pink Test’ was hosted in Sydney back in 2009 and ever since then, the fans are asked to wear ‘pink and donate generously’.

The BCCI also shared a picture of skipper Kohli going pink for the cause, as he donned the colour on his cricketing gear on Day 1 of the 4th Test.

Speaking about the initiative, McGrath told AAP: “There are plenty of stories where women watching the Test, they have sort of checked themselves or noticed something not quite normal, and gone and got themselves checked out and found out they had breast cancer but it was still in the early stages.”

The former speedster suggested women – and men too – should, “get to know your bodies and if you do see a change or think there’s something there go and get it checked out. You never know, there’s that opportunity to play some sort of role moving forward. They’re always involved in the Sydney Test every year; it’s something that they’re proud of and I think it’s a great legacy that their mum has left for them too.”

India, meanwhile, have taken the first step towards winning the series, following a dominant performance on Day 1 that sees that sit 303/4 at stumps.