Indian team downplays outburst against journo
PERTH/NEW DELHI: The controversy surrounding Virat Kohli’s abusive behaviour with an Indian journalist refused to subside on Wednesday despite the team management’s efforts to play it down with complaints being made to the ICC and BCCI about the episode.
The BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur said that it was a case of misunderstanding and the issue should be put to rest immediately to let the team focus on the World Cup.
“He (Kohli) has clarified on the issue. For India, the ongoing World Cup is very important. We need to put all these issues to rest and indirectly has communicated that he misunderstood the situation. Let’s put this matter to an end,” Thakur said when asked about the incident.
“In future I think these kind of incidents should be avoided and taken care of,” said the 40-year-old who was elected as BCCI secretary at the board’s AGM held in Chennai on Sunday.
The team management issued a brief statement saying that, “there was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used. Virat has spoken to the concerned gentleman immediately and matter ends.”
However, the Hindustan Times, whose reporter was abused by Kohli, has filed complaints with the ICC and the BCCI.
“I have written a letter to the BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya after consulting our Editor-in-Chief. I have asked Dalmiya to look into the incident. The reporter in question, Jasvinder Sidhu, has also informed the ICC about the incident,” HT Sports Editor Sukhwant Basra said.
The newspaper is also examining whether Kohli had violated any law applicable in that country and could consider the option of legal action against Kohli.
Meanwhile, the Indian cricket team on Wednesday tried to play down Tuesday’s incident.
A furious Kohli allegedly used obscene language against Hindustan Times writer Jasvinder Sidhu to the shock of many journalists present at the Murdoch Oval here.
The Indian team disputed Sidhu’s version, saying no abusive language was used and that Kohli had apologised directly to him.
“There was a misunderstanding and no abusive language was used. Virat has spoken to the concerned gentlemen immediately and matter ends,” India team manager RN Baba was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.
However, Sidhu wrote in an article that “when I turned my attention towards Virat, I realised he was getting worked up and raising his voice at me. His furiously wagging index finger left no room for doubt – I was clearly the victim of his scorn.
“However, to confirm, just in case, I pointed towards myself and gestured if he was talking to me. The confirmation came with another gesticulation. Unable to believe that I was the one being singled out, I looked askance in either direction. Huffing and puffing, Kohli said, ‘Yes ba***d … you are here also’.”
Kohli reportedly then headed to the dressing room but reappeared 15 minutes later smiling at Sidhu. Kohli then relayed an apology through another reporter, saying he had mistaken Sidhu for someone else.
However, Sidhu wrote: “I would like to reiterate that Kohli didn’t apologise to me directly.”
Kohli’s outburst came in the wake of a report in some other daily vis-a-vis his girlfriend and actress Anushka Sharma staying with him during the England tour last year despite a ban by the Indian cricket board. (PTI)
