Kolkata: India captain Virat Kohli on Thursday took to Twitter to clarify that his ‘no-longer-friends’ with Australian cricketers comment had been blown out of proportion and he continued to be in good terms with the “few guys” he knew and those who had played with him for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
At the end of the enthralling four-match series, which India won 2-1 following a victory in the Dharamsala Test, Kohli had said that his views on friendship with the Australians had changed. Kohli’s clarification comes after he received widespread criticism from the Australian media on what they dubbed as ‘classless’ comments.
“No, it has changed for sure. I thought that was the case but it has changed for sure. As I said in the heat of the battle, you want to be competitive but yeah I have been proven wrong. The thing I said before the first Test, I have certainly been proven wrong and you won’t hear me say that ever again,” Kohli was quoted saying after the Dharamsala test.
Kohli later clarified in a series of tweets, that his comment was not meant for the entire Australian team. “My answer at the post match conference has been blown way out of proportion. I did not categorically say the whole Australian team but….,” read the first tweet followed by a second tweet which said, “Only a couple of individuals. I continue to be in good terms with the few guys I know & who I’ve played with at RCB & that doesn’t change.” Kohli throughout the series was targeted by the Australian media and even some retired Australian players, one of them being Brad Hodge.
Hodge had questioned Virat Kohli’s ethics for not playing the crucial series decider against Australia to save himself for the upcoming IPL. Hodge though has apologised for his remarks on the Indian skipper. Hodge, who is the coach of the Gujarat Lions took to social media and said that he respected Kohli and had no ‘ill intentions.” “As a professional sportsperson who has represented his country, I certainly understand what it means to step out on a cricket field donning your nation’s colours. It is the highest honour a sportsperson can ask for,” said Hodge. “Keeping that in mind, I take this opportunity to apologise to the people of India, cricket fans, the Indian national cricket team and particularly Virat Kohli for my previous comments. My intention was never to harm, criticise or be derogatory towards anyone. They were intended to be light-hearted comments with the utmost respect to the Indian Premier League which I have thoroughly enjoyed through the years,” he said.
The 42-year old cricket concluded by saying, “Again, I am deeply apologetic to the country which has bought me so much joy, and its inspirational leader in Virat Kohli, to whom I mean no ill-intention & respect highly as a professional.”
Now as the series is done and dusted with even Australian skipper Steve Smith has apologised for his behaviour during the series, Kohli though has not been so benevolent and has neither apologised nor stepped back from his aggressive stand.
(With inputs from Times of India and Indian Express)