Virat Kohli clears air on ‘friendship’ comment over Australians

Indian Test skipper Virat Kohli, who has been at the receiving end,owing to his controversial comment on his friendship with the Australian players, on Thursday cleared the air regarding his statement. Kohli, who on Tuesday, post the Indian win over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, had stated that his friendship with the Australian team was over, later clearly stated in a tweet that his comment was not meant for the entire Australian team, but few specific individual players. “My answer at the post match conference has been blown way out of proportion. I did not categorically say the whole Australian team but 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,” said Kohli in a tweet. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Australia, 4th Test at Dharamsala

Meanwhile, former Australian international Brad Hodge on Thursday apologised over suggestions that firebrand Indian captain Virat Kohli pulled out of the final Test to save himself for the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hodge came under fire in the subcontinent for his conjecture about Kohli’s injury-enforced withdrawal from the deciding fourth Test against Australia, which ended on Tuesday. “You’d hope as a sportsman that he’s seriously injured,” he told Fox Sports on Sunday.

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1/2 My answer at the post match conference has been blown way out of proportion. I did not categorically say the whole Australian team but

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 30, 2017

2/2only 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.

— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) March 30, 2017

“Because if you miss one game of Test match cricket and you’re fronting up the next week for RCB [Royal Challengers Bangalore] versus whoever… you’d be pretty dirty if he didn’t front up to a Test match and try and win a valuable series against Australia,” he had said. But Hodge has now apologised for his statement.

“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,” he posted to Twitter. “My intention was never to harm, criticise or be derogatory toward 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.”The public and fans have every right to be upset, and the backlash I have received has certainly driven this home.”