Abhinav Mukund slams racism, says 'fair isn't the only lovely or handsome'

Abhinav Mukund, who is currently touring with the Indian cricket team in Sri Lanka, has clarified that his recent strongly-worded statement against racism was not directed at his team-mates, but towards people who were saying absolutely derogatory things about his skin tone.

Recently, the 27-year-old took to his official Twitter account and posted an emotional message wherein he insisted that fair is not being the "only lovely or handsome."

He further said that he is not writing the post to gain any sympathy or attention, but to change the mindset of the people.

"I have been playing cricket since the age of 10 and I have gradually climbed up the ladder to where I am right now. It is an honour to get the chance to represent the country at the highest level. I am writing today not to garner sympathy or attention but...with the hope to change the mindset of people on an issue I feel strongly about," Mukund wrote on Twitter.

Mukund also insisted that the rigorous outdoor training and travels had resulted in his skin colour becoming darker, but he had never regretted or let it affect his cricketing career.

"I have been travelling a lot within and outside our country since I was 15. Ever since I was young, people's obsession with my skin colour has always been a mystery to me. Any one who follows cricket would understand the obvious. I have played and trained day in and day out in the sun and not once have I regretted the fact that I have tanned or lost a couple of shades. It is simply because I love what I do and I have been able to achieve certain things only because I have spent hours outdoor. I come from Chennai probably one of the hottest places in our country and I have gladly spent most of my adult life in the cricket ground," he added.

While Mukund had been targeted since his days as a young cricketer over the colour of his skin, he said that he is taking a stand for all the victims of abuse on the basis colour.

"I have laughed and shrugged it off because I had bigger goals! Affected young, I toughened up because this was never something that would pull me down. There were many times when I chose not to dignify these insults with responses.With the rise of social media, it has gone to a magnitude that I see people hurling abuses left, right and centre at something I have absolutely no control over. Fair isn't the only lovely or handsome guys," his tweet further read.

"Stay true, stay focussed, be comfortable in your own skin", Mukund concluded.

However, his post led to conspiracy theories whether he was referring to the atmosphere in the dressing room.

Quashing the same, Mukund said that the message was not directed at his teammates before requesting people to not turn a simple message into something political.

"Guys please don't turn this into something else,it has absolutely no connection to anyone in the team. It is mainly targeted at people," Mukund tweeted, before continuing in another tweet, "Who have been posting abuses about colour and saying absolutely derogatory things about the tone of my skin. That s all !," he clarified.

"Please don't turn this into something political,I just wanted to make a positive statement hoping to make a change. That s all," he added.

Mukund, who has appeared in seven Tests for India, smashed 81 in the second innings of India's 304-run win over Lanka in the opening match at Galle before being dropped at an expense of fit-again KL Rahul.