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Bollywood actor Anushka Sharma posted a heartfelt message for her husband — Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli — on his birthday on social media. The message came days after Kohli faced severe trolling for defending Indian bowler Muhammad Shami against online abuse.

The Ae Dil Hai Mushkil actor posted a picture of herself and her husband with a touching message on Instagram. "No filter needed for this photo and the way you lead your life," she wrote. "Your core is made of honesty and guts of steel. Courage that pales doubt into oblivion. I know no one who can pick themselves up from a dark place like you can."

Sharma praised how Kohli doesn't hold onto things "within you as permanent". "[You] are fearless," she said. "I know we are not [the sort] to talk to each other through social media like this but sometimes I just want to scream and tell the world what an amazing man you are. Fortunate are those who really truly know you. Thank you for making everything brighter and more beautiful.

"Happy Birthday cuteness!" the actor wished at the end.

Kohli had been criticised for backing Shami as well as India's below average performance in the T20 World Cup against Pakistan and New Zealand. According to NDTV, a rape threat against the cricketer's nine-month-old daughter also surfaced online after his defence of his Muslim teammate. Shami was singled out after the Pakistan versus India match and his religion was used to degrade him. Kohli hit back at critics during a post-match press conference and called them "spineless". “This is literally the lowest level of human potential that one can operate at and that’s how I look at these people,” he said.

Sharma and Kohli have been married since December 2017 and have one daughter together.